Yan Liu is up 1 shot at the Meijer LPGA Classic after a 6-under 66 on Thursday morning at Blythefield Country Club. The 28-year-old closed with a birdie on the par-5 18th and said, "Very happy I put myself on this position" after taking the lead.
Her position was built on a round that held up in chilly, windy conditions and left her at the top of a crowded board. Jessica Porvasnik and Cassie Porter finished one stroke back, while several players sat at 68.
68s keep pressure on Liu
Jennifer Kupcho, Youmin Hwang, Minji Kang, Nastasia Nadaud, Benedetta Moresco and Daniela Darquea all posted 68, leaving the first round compressed behind the leader. That kind of spread means Liu starts Friday with no cushion beyond a single shot, even after opening with the round's lowest score.
Kiara Romero carded a 72 on a sponsor exemption. She entered as the No. 1 amateur in the world and had already tied for sixth at the U.S. Women's Open, so her opening number placed her in the middle of the field rather than near the top.
Ciganda opens at 72
Carlota Ciganda, the defending champion, also opened with a 72. Brooke Henderson posted a 73 and Jeeno Thitikul shot 74, which pushed two more big names farther back than the front group after one round.
Liu is winless on the LPGA Tour, so the scoreboard now asks a sharper question than Thursday morning did: Can a 28-year-old first-round leader convert a one-shot edge into her first tour win? The answer will come from the next 54 holes, but the opening round already narrowed the chase to a small margin.
