where defending champion Nelly Korda's 22-foot eagle putt on the par-5 18th gave her a 6-under 66 and the lead.
Korda, who was making her second start after a four-month hiatus due to a blood clot in her left arm, also eagled the par-5 eighth hole and finished with three birdies and a bogey. At Blythefield Country Club, she had a score of 18-under 198.
Jennifer Kupcho scored a 69 to fall a shot behind playing partner Korda, who was two strokes ahead her going into the day. She made a two-putt on the par-4 17th after completing her first bogey of the week.
In her first competition since early February, the second-ranked Korda tied for eighth place at the U.S. Women's Open two weeks ago. Additionally, she will be defending her title at Congressional next week in the KPGA Women's PGA.
After shooting a 67, Brooke Henderson, the ShopRite LPGA Classic champion from Sunday in New Jersey and the champion at Blythefield in 2017 and 2019, was third at 15 under par.
The 2015 winner, Lexi Thompson, shot 68 to finish at 14 under. The U.S. Women's Open champion Minjee Lee shot 66 to tie Lydia Ko (65) at 13 under.
Following a 67, Atthaya Thitikul was 12 under par.
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