Lilia Vu Fires 64 to Grab Lead at LPGA Ford Championship

Lilia Vu takes the lead at the LPGA Ford Championship with a stunning 8-under 64. Get the latest updates and highlights from the tournament.

Two-time major winner Lilia Vu took the lead at the LPGA Ford Championship, firing an impressive eight-under par 64 in the second round. Vu's bogey-free round featured eight birdies, propelling her to a 14-under par 130 after 36 holes at Whirlwind Golf Club in Chandler, Arizona.

Vu credited her caddie for helping her stay focused and composed during the round. “I just stayed in my bubble,” Vu said. “My caddie knew I was stressed this morning, and on the range he just said, 'Just hit your start lines and I'll handle the rest. We're going to be OK.' That definitely gave me a sense of comfort.”

As the sixth-ranked golfer, Vu seeks her sixth LPGA title and her first since last June's Meijer Classic. Notably, the Meijer Classic marked her return to competition after a three-month absence due to a back injury. “I wasn't worried too much about the golf. I was kind of more focused on my body stuff and trying to get through the round without any pain and just stay strong throughout,” Vu said.

Lilia Vu hammers the birdie on 10 to take a share of the lead 🤩 pic.twitter.com/EdfEhKacNh

— LPGA (@LPGA) March 28, 2025

Vu has been working to manage her back injury, focusing on staying in tune with her body. Although she still experiences some limitations, she has made significant progress. “I've been trying to get in tune with my body. I'm not in pain anymore. I'm just waiting for the power to kick in a little bit. I think that's something that's kind of been lacking, but I just focused on staying true to my process and just playing golf,” Vu said.

A group of four golfers trailed leader Lilia Vu by two strokes, with a total score of 132. This pack included top-ranked Nelly Korda of the United States, who carded a 65, and world number two Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand, who shot a 64. England's Charley Hull and Denmark's Nanna Koerstz Madsen also joined this group.

Korda, who started on the back nine, had a strong opening nine holes with five birdies. She added three more birdies after the turn, with her only bogey coming at the par-4 fourth. “Got off to a good start,” Korda said. “Slowed a little down on the back nine, but the wind picked up a little. It was starting to play a little bit firmer. Once the round and the heat starts to play a factor, you have to be a little bit more timid.”

Thitikul, also starting on the back nine, began her round with three birdies and an eagle at the par-5 12th in her first four holes. She added four more birdies throughout the round, with her only bogey coming at the fourth hole. Thitikul expressed her satisfaction with her putting performance, saying, “I didn't have a good confidence before coming here with my putter much, but I think for this two rounds I putted really well.”

Charley Hull, who held the 18-hole lead after firing a 63 on Thursday, carded a 69 in the second round. Hull reflected on her performance, saying, “I felt like I played pretty solid out there. I holed some good putts and I missed some that I probably should have holed, but it was a bit windy. I'm pretty happy with that and looking forward to the weekend.” Hull seeks her third career LPGA triumph and first since the 2022 Volunteers of America Classic.

Nanna Koerstz Madsen, whose lone LPGA win came in Thailand in 2022, fired a 68 in the second round. Madsen found the conditions challenging, saying, “It was tricky out there. The greens were really firm. It got a little windy... It was good to make pars.”