NW Arkansas 2021 R1
September 24-26
Pinnacle Country Club, Rogers, Arkansas
$2,300,000
Round 2, Round 3

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

South Korea's A Lim Kim and Eun-Hee Ji and Australian Katherine Kirk recorded 8-under 63s to top the leaderboard heading into the weekend. Kim's 63 is her career-best score while Ji tied her low mark last recorded in the first round of the Honda LPGA Thailand. Kirk's round is her lowest since a 62 at the 2018 Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic.

NW Arkansas 2021 R1

“Today I think my condition very nice, tee shot, or second or putting, that's good. I tried my best today,” said Kim in her first appearance in Arkansas.

“It was fun. I got off to a good start, and this is the kind of golf course where you just have to keep the pedal down. I was fortunately able to do that and rattled in, what, I think four birdies on each side. I'm really happy with the round,” said a bogey-free Kirk. “You have to get off to a good start here. This is more of a sprint than a marathon, so super happy.”

NW Arkansas 2021 R1

Kirk is playing in her 15th Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, one the few who has taken part in every edition since its inception. This is her 20th event of 2021, where her season-best result so far was a tie for 25th at the Pure Silk Championship. After a hole-in-one at last week's Cambia Portland Classic, the T26 result provided a much-needed “confidence boost” as she prepared for the three-day event.

“It has been a bit of a grind this year, so I have been hitting the ball well but haven't been scoring well. It's been a bit frustrating. As a veteran, I know I've got to remain patient and just keep doing the right things and eventually you'll turn a corner. I felt like last week was a little bit of a turning point. I love this golf course, good memories and good vibes and it was just a matter of going out there and having some fun.”

NW Arkansas 2021 R1

One stroke behind in fourth place, Sarah Burnham recorded a career-low 7-under 64 thanks to seven birdies. Four players are tied for fifth at 6-under, including Nasa Hataoka and Pajaree Anannarukarn. Hataoka aced the 11th while Anannarukarn rebounded quickly from a triple bogey at the 6th with a chip-in eagle at the 7th.

“Obviously I didn't hit that [shot on No. 6] good and it just went left of the pin. Yeah, it went in the water and I was just kind of messing around, yeah, it's golf. Like I should have stayed more focused, but kind of missed on that,” said Anannarukarn. “Honestly [No. 7] was a great hole. I hit good off the tee and good second shot, and then the third shot was just great. I was trying to get it close but wasn't really intending to make it in. But, yeah, made it.”

Six players sit in a tie for 10th at 5-under 66s, including major champions Ariya Jutanugarn and In Gee Chun.

NW Arkansas 2021 R1