Sarah Schmelzel's big finish in
Arkansas gives her share of the lead on LPGA
[September 20, 2025]
ROGERS, Ark. (AP) — Sarah Schmelzel went from the middle of
the pack to a tie for the lead in just five holes Friday, closing
with four straight birdies and an eagle for an 8-under 63 to match
Minami Katsu in the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship.
Alison Lee also finished strong with a birdie and an eagle and was
among those one shot behind, just what she needed to see in her
third tournament back from giving birth to a son in late April.
The scoring was low at Pinnacle Country Club, and that's what
concerned Schmelzel. She went out in 34 and was at 2 under and
seemingly going nowhere. But she knew she was coming up on some
scoring holes, with short clubs into the green and two par 5s.
“You should at least have looks on all those because you have pretty
short clubs in,” Schmelzel said. “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 there today.”
She hit a few wedges close. She made a long birdie putt on the 17th.
And then she capped it off with a second shot close enough for a
good look at eagle. She was 2 under through 13 holes, and then 6
under over the last five.
Katsu spread out her eight birdies in a bogey-free round.
The surprise was Lee, who played in the Solheim Cup while pregnant
last year. She only returned to competition earlier this month,
finishing in a tie for 53rd at the Aramco Series event in Houston —
a Ladies European Tour event — and the missing the cut last week in
the Kroger Queen City Championship outside Cincinnati.
Lee wonders if the Friday start — this is one of two scheduled
54-hole events on the LPGA — helped her get ready.
[to top of second column] |
“I would say over the last couple weeks coming back
and playing, usually the strongest part of my game is my approach
shots, my irons. Usually good with hitting my numbers,” Lee said.
“Felt like over the last couple weeks that was my weakness. I
couldn’t quite get it right.
“So coming into this week — it being a Friday start, too — I had an
extra day to prep and hit more range balls, and I feel like that
really helped.”
It was a good score to see to get her on track, though Lee realized
it was just one round in her return to be a mom on tour. Her son is
traveling with her.
Lilia Vu, who has been struggling all year, Nasa Hataoka, Carlota
Ciganda, Leona Maguire and Somi Lee also were at 64.
Nelly Korda, still winless this season after a seven-win year in
2024, failed to take advantage of the good scoring conditions. She
had a 69 and will go into the second round Friday closer to the cut
line than to the lead.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved
 |
