Hull and Woad Pursue US Solheim Cup Opponent as Korda Secures Cut

Lottie Woad and Charley Hull, representing Europe in the upcoming Solheim Cup, found themselves six strokes behind the leaders at the LPGA Tour's FM Championship, where their American counterpart Allisen Corpuz was sharing the top spot as the tournament headed into the weekend. The English pair were tied for 27th place, both sitting at three under par after the second round. Woad, who had shown promise in the opening round, slipped back with a one‑over 73, while Hull posted a solid two‑under 70 to keep her within striking distance.

Meanwhile, Corpuz fired a blistering 67, joining Japan's rising star Miyu Yamashita and South Korea's Hyo Joo Kim, each sitting at nine under par. Yamashita, who had recently tied the LPGA Tour’s 72‑hole scoring record with a nine‑under victory at the CPKC Women’s Open, was again in contention, posting a two‑under second round to maintain her momentum. Corpuz and Kim both recorded five‑under rounds on Friday, further tightening the leaderboard.

Other notable performances included Morgane Metraux and Ruoning Yin, both carding 65s, and Jenny Bae with a 68, leaving them just a stroke shy of the leaders. Nataliya Guseva matched that 68, while Emily Kristine Pedersen posted a 72, both sitting at seven under.

First‑round leader Sei Young Kim, who opened with an impressive 64, faltered on the second day with a 74, dropping three strokes back in the standings. In other news, World No.

1 Nelly Korda recorded her second consecutive 72‑hole round of even par, comfortably making the cut at the final pre‑Solheim Cup event in the Netherlands, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports from September 11. European captain Anna Nordqvist, playing her last tournament before retirement, also advanced to the weekend. After a shaky opening 74, she rebounded with a tidy 68, demonstrating the experience that will be vital for the Solheim Cup team.

South Africa’s Casandra Alexander continued to dominate the KPMG Women’s Irish Open, extending her lead to five strokes after a second‑round 66 that brought her total to 15 under par. Alexander opened the tournament with a historic nine‑under 63 on Thursday – a record for the Palmer South Course at The K Club – and followed it up with an aggressive start on day two, carding eagle‑birdie‑birdie on holes 10, 11 and 12. She reached the turn in 32 strokes, added a second eagle on the third hole, endured a bogey on the sixth, and finished with a birdie on the seventh, showcasing a blend of power and precision. She now leads Sara Kouskova, who posted a 66, and Brianna Navarrosa, who shot a 65, by five shots.

"Not as tidy as yesterday," Alexander admitted after her round. "I left some putts right in the throat and had some awkward wedge numbers. But overall pretty good. It was always going to be hard to follow up yesterday's round.

Sometimes that's really difficult to get two days really flowing and going. Two eagles helped the situation. Six‑under, I'm very happy." On the Irish front, Canice Screene emerged as the top Irish player, tied for eighth after a strong finish that featured birdies on seven of her last twelve holes, resulting in a 67.

Leona Maguire, another Irish hopeful, was tied for 26th after posting her second consecutive one‑under 71. Fans can follow the action at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open and the FM Championship throughout the weekend on Sky Sports Golf, with live coverage from Ireland beginning Saturday at 2:30 pm. Those who prefer streaming can access the coverage without a contract via NOW, and can also explore special Sky Sports deals.

For golfers looking to hit the links themselves, the platform offers the ability to compare rates and book tee times at more than 1,700 courses across the United Kingdom and Ireland. Simply enter a course name, city, or postal code to find the best options. If no results appear, try adjusting the search criteria. Overall, the weekend promises a blend of high‑stakes competition and compelling storylines, from the European Solheim Cup hopefuls chasing the American leader to the thrilling battles unfolding on the Irish course.

The performances of Hull, Woad, Korda, and Alexander will be closely watched as they each aim to build momentum heading into the prestigious team event later this year.