Schmelzel, Katsu share LPGA NW Arkansas Championship lead

Sarah Schmelzel picked up six strokes in the last five holes to seize a share of the first-round lead in the LPGA NW Arkansas Championship on Friday alongside Minami Katsu.

Schmelzel surged home at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Arkansas, with birdies at 14, 15, 16 and 17 and an eagle at the par-five 18th on the way to an eight-under par total of 63.

The American, who like Katsu is chasing a first LPGA title, said she "wasn't doing anything too poorly" on the front nine, and she was able to strike late on holes that she expected to offer birdie chances.

"I told my caddie walking to the green on 14, I need to start making some birdies or else I'm going to get lapped out here," she said. "It was just a few good wedge shots and then I made a longer one on 17. Then I just hit it really close on 18, which was nice to end that way."

Schmelzel said the three-round format made it even more important to get off to a good start.

"Especially this always plays kind of like a birdiefest," she said. "You've just got to make a bunch of birdies and stay super aggressive.

"There is not much sitting back and waiting and seeing how the week is playing out."

Katsu had four birdies on each side in her bogey-free 63.

She got off to a strong start with birdies at the first two holes and added another pair at the fifth and sixth.

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She opened the back nine with birdies at 10 and 11 and picked up two more at 15 and 18.

"Overall I think it was a perfect round," she said.

The leaders were one stroke clear of a group of six players on seven-under 64.

Ireland's Leona Maguire, Spain's Carlota Ciganda, South Korean Lee So-mi and American Lilia Vu all had seven birdies without a bogey.

Japan's Nasa Hataoka and American Alison Lee both offset one bogey with six birdies and eagles at the 18th to reach seven-under.

American star Nelly Korda, at number two the highest-ranked player in the field, had four birdies and two bogeys in a two-under par 69.

"Definitely have to figure out a few things," said Korda, who is chasing her first title of 2025 after capturing seven in a dazzling 2024 campaign.

Defending champion Jasmine Suwannapura of Thailand opened with a two-over 73.

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