Rogers, Arkansas – Sarah Schmelzel headed to the lead from the team on just five holes Friday and ended the 63-under-63 Hawks with a four-game birdie and an Eagles to match Minami Katsu from the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship.
Alison Lee also ended her tough performance with a birdie and an Eagle, one she needs to see in her third game of having a son in late April.
The Pinnacle Country Club scores very low, which is why Schmelzel. She went out at 34 and under 2 years old, and seemed to have nowhere to go. But she knew she was running into some scoring holes, the short club went into the green and two 5-shot 5-shot.
“You should at least look at all of this because your club is short,” Schmelzer said. “I told my caddie to walk to the green when I was 14 and I needed to start making some birdies or I’m going to be tied up there today.”
She hit a few wedges. She made a long birdie putt on the 17th. Then, she covered enough shots with the second shot to look at Eagle well. She put 2 holes in 13 holes, and then 6 holes in the last five holes.
Katsu spreads her eight birdies in a bogey-free round.
Surprisingly, Lee, who played in the Solheim Cup during his pregnancy last year. She didn’t return until early this month, ending the 53rd game in the Aramco Series (A Aramco Series) in Houston – missing last week in the Kroger Queen City Championship outside Cincinnati.
Lee wondered if it started on Friday – one of the two scheduled 54-hole events on LPGA – helped her get ready.
“I want to say that the strongest part of my game over the past few weeks has been my approach shot, my hardcore. It can usually hit my numbers,” Lee said. “In the past few weeks, it felt like my weakness. I can’t be completely right.
“So into the week – and it’s also the start of Friday – I had an extra day to prepare and hit more range balls, and I think that really helped.”
It was a good result to see her on track, although Lee realized it was just a round of competition she returned to the tour. Her son travels with her.
Lilia Vu struggles all year round, with NASA Hataoka, Carlota Ciganda, Leona Maguire and Somi Lee also 64 years old.
Nelly Korda still has no wins this season after winning seven titles in 2024, failing to take advantage of good scoring conditions. She has 69 people and will enter the second round on Friday, closer to the cutting line than the lead.
