LPGA golfer, Nelly Korda, putts on the 8th green during the 2024 Kroger Queen City Championships at TPC River Bend golf course in Maineville, Ohio, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. Korda, from Bradenton, Florida, finished the day with a 67 and -5.

Nelly Korda had a tough time getting out of bed Thursday morning. Any Solheim Cup fatigue had no bearing on her standard of golf, a bogey-free 67 in the Kroger Queen City Championship that left her two shots behind Ashleigh Buhai.

Korda returns to stroke play with an infinitesimally tiny lead in the LPGA's Vare Trophy race, the award for the lowest scoring average on tour. At 70.04, she is .02 ahead of Amundi Evian Championship winner Ayaka Furue (70.06), who is not in this week's field. The winner of the award earns a valuable LPGA Hall of Fame point.