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.

MAINEVILLE, Ohio — 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.

Last week, World No. 1 Nelly Korda helped lead Team USA to its first Solheim Cup win since 2017. Korda may have cherished that title even more than the half-dozen wins she's logged on the LPGA Tour this year.

Lydia Ko has turned on the jets. And she’s not slowing down. Ko shot a second-round 66 to vault into the clubhouse lead at the 2024 Kroger Queen City Championship outside Cincinnati on Friday. Coupled with her Thursday 67 and Ko was at 11 under heading into the weekend.

The LPGA Kroger Queen City Championship continues Friday at TPC River's Bend in Maineville, Ohio. Follow along for updates.

Nelly Korda had a tough time getting out of bed Thursday morning. Any Solheim Cup fatigue had no bearing on her standard of golf.