Columbia Edgewater opened cool and calm on day one, with barely a hint of wind – perfect conditions for what felt like a spring-loaded leaderboard. Even with limited broadcast coverage, every time you glanced away, someone else was making a move. The air had a crispness the previous days lacked, forcing players to adjust and keeping them sharp throughout the round. The tree-lined fairways delighted some, while others felt boxed in, more looking down a narrow bowling lane. The greens rolled true and fast, a solid 12 on the stimp according to some.
Brooke Henderson set the tone with a four-birdie streak right out of the gate. Wichanee Meechai fired off a birdie-eagle-birdie start that had the gallery whispering and the crows cawing. Chisato Iwai, blending in with her Oregon green top, finished at three under, highlighted by an impressive eagle on the 463-yard par-5 seventh.
American Gurleen Kaur posted up eight birdies, while China's Miranda Wang navigated around the towering trees to card a bogey-free round, saving par eleven times. Abacaya Yubol kept her card clean with twelve pars and no bogeys, finishing the day tied for fourth alongside Haeran Ryu. Jin Young Ko of South Korea delivered a commanding performance, carding a five-under-par round with 13 pars and five birdies.
In the afternoon wave, rookie Adéla Cernousek and fellow Frenchwoman Perrine Delacour made their presence felt, finishing at 8-under and 6-under, respectively.
So, at the end of Round 1 Adéla Cernousek rests alone atop the leaderboard at 8-under. A five-way logjam at 7-under sees Henderson, Kaur, Lee5, Park, and M. Wang all in the mix, while a tightly packed chase group -- including Buhai, Grant, Ryu, Yubol, and Delacour -- tied for seventh, keeps the tension high heading into Round 2.
Round 1 Competition Highlights
Brooke Henderson stuck a solid third shot on the par-5 10th for birdie to start her round, added another on 11, and went a perfect four-for-four on birdies through 13.
Adéla Cernousek, the rookie from Antibes, France, showcased her technical, course management driven style to finish alone in first at 8-under including an eagle on 7.
Caroline Masson's 7-iron at the par-3 second was so pure she didn't even see it disappear. Hidden behind a bunker, the ball found the cup for her first ace of the year, sending a ripple of cheers across the gallery.
Perrine Delacour, currently ranked 118 in the world, had a phenomenal day posting 4 birdies on the front 9 and finishing tied for 7th.
Rose Zhang, hindered by injury and a stop-start schedule struggled early, including double bogeys on 10 and 13, never quite finding her rhythm.
Wichanee Meechai fired off a birdie-eagle-birdie start but finished even for the day.
Lilia Vu was working to regain the form that once took her to World No. 1. 16 pars and 1 birdie on the day to end even.
Caroline Inglis playing on her home course came close to recreating her past heroics at the 13th, setting up a short birdie putt and finishing at 2-under.
Chisato Iwai, blending in with her Oregon green top, finished at three under, highlighted by an impressive eagle on the 463-yard par-5 seventh.
Jin Young Ko's ball striking was sharp all day, producing a commanding five-under round built on 13 pars and five birdies.
Lauren Coughlin pushed her way to four-under with a strong putting performance and an aggressive approach off the tees.
Yuka Saso carded four birdies, but double bogeys on 9 and 11 knocked her back, leaving her at 6-over for the day.
Abacaya Yubol held a one-shot lead at one point and kept a spotless card with twelve pars and no bogeys, ending the day tied for 6th.
American Gurleen Kaur posted eight birdies.
Gigi Stoll stumbled with a triple bogey on the 426-yard par-4 third but recovered to shoot an even-par 72 for the round.
Shout Out
Filipino golf fans have reason to be excited as Dottie Ardina posted a superb -3 for the day. Ardina looked incredibly sharp throughout her round, displaying a level of control and confidence that suggests her game may reach top form over the course of the weekend.
Gear Notes
Brooke Henderson is playing with a new TaylorMade Spider putter, fitted with a Garsen Quad Tour NT grip.