(Photo credit score: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images)
Sarah Schmelzel and Japan’s Minami Katsu grabbed shares of the lead after one spherical of the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship on Friday in Rogers, Ark.
Katsu posted a bogey-free, 8-under-par 63 at Pinnacle Country Club. Schmelzel matched that quantity with a white-hot end — 4 straight birdies at Nos. 14-17, then an eagle on the par-5 18th.
They’re one stroke forward of six gamers tied at 7 underneath: Alison Lee, Lilia Vu, Spaniard Carlota Ciganda, Ireland’s Leona Maguire, Japan’s Nasa Hataoka and Somi Lee of South Korea.
Schmelzel, 31, is in best place to go after the primary win of her LPGA profession.
‘This at all times performs type of like a birdie-fest,’ Schmelzel mentioned. ‘You simply received to make a bunch of birdies and keep tremendous aggressive. And then with all of the rain we received yesterday, it is enjoying so delicate, so inside the first few holes you knew that women had been going to make tons of birdies simply since you hit it and it stops proper across the gap.
‘So, yeah, I assume it modifications mentality simply realizing that you just received to go on the market and get it.’
She did not totally capitalize early on, making three birdies and one bogey on her entrance 9 earlier than a string of pars. Then she flipped the change.
‘You’re hoping you possibly can end that nicely,’ Schmelzel mentioned. ‘I advised my caddie I feel strolling to the inexperienced on 14, ‘I would like to begin making some birdies or else I’m going to get lapped out right here at the moment.’ It was only a few good wedge photographs after which I made an extended one on I assume it was 17; then simply hit it actually shut on 18, which was good to finish that means.’
Katsu hit 12 of 13 fairways in regulation and carded 4 birdies on every 9.
‘Overall, I feel it was an ideal spherical,’ Katsu mentioned by means of a translator. ‘I used to be making an attempt to goal for 100% on fairway maintaining. Missed that on 18, in order that’s just a little disappointing. Felt like at the moment was a extremely good spherical.’
Katsu has received eight occasions as a professional, however all of these got here on the LPGA of Japan Tour.
Among the group tied for third, Vu stands out as a a number of main winner making an attempt to salvage a poor season, with only one top-10 and 5 of 15 made cuts.
Vu hit each fairway in regulation and 17 of 18 greens on a bogey-free day.
‘I have never had this place in a protracted, very long time,’ Vu mentioned. ‘I really feel like I’ve type of gone down a distinct route in my golf recreation and making an attempt to get physique first.
‘I used to be speaking with my psychological coach, and the one purpose at the moment was to attempt my finest on the shot in entrance of me and to not get forward of myself; I feel I did that actually nicely. Just gave it my all on every shot and turned out fairly properly.’
Maguire, making an attempt for her first LPGA win in two-plus years, boasts the identical stat line as Vu: each fairway in regulation, 17 of 18 greens, seven birdies, no bogeys.
‘Yeah, really feel like my recreation has been in fine condition for the previous couple months,’ Maguire mentioned. ‘It’s good to begin off with a low one right here. It’s type of make loads of birdies or get left behind.’
Stacy Lewis is within the combine after posting a 3-under 68 on Friday. Earlier this week, the 40-year-old introduced she is retiring at season’s finish.
‘When I walked on that (first) tee, all people sort (of) began cheering for me and going loopy,’ Lewis mentioned. ‘I needed to go conceal within the tent for a second. Just needed to get the primary gap over with. I used to be really fairly nervous beginning the day, which hadn’t been like that shortly right here. Once I received off the primary gap, I felt much more comfy. It was loads of enjoyable.’
–Field Level Media