Sarah Schmelzel and Minami Katsu Lead Walmart NW Arkansas Championship
Rogers, Ark. – Sarah Schmelzel staged an impressive comeback, moving from the middle of the leaderboard to the lead in just five holes. With four consecutive birdies and an eagle, she signed a card of 63 strokes, eight under par, tying Minami Katsu at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship. Alison Lee also had a great finish, with a birdie and an eagle, finishing one stroke behind the leaders. This result is especially significant for Lee, who is playing her third tournament since giving birth to her son at the end of April. The low score at Pinnacle Country Club was a key factor. Schmelzel, who started with 34 strokes and was two under par, knew he was approaching birdie-friendly holes, with short shots to the green and two par 5s.Schmelzel managed several close wedge shots, a long putt for birdie on the 17th hole, and culminated with a second shot that left him in position for an eagle. After 13 holes, he was two under par, but in the last five holes he added six under par. Katsu, for his part, distributed his eight birdies in a bogey-free round. Alison Lee’s performance was a surprise. Lee, who played in the Solheim Cup while pregnant last year, returned to competition this month, finishing in 53rd place at the Aramco Series event in Houston and failing to make the cut last week at the Kroger Queen City Championship outside Cincinnati. Lee reflected on how starting on Friday, in one of the two 54-hole events scheduled on the LPGA, may have helped her prepare.“You should have opportunities on all those holes because you have short clubs,” Schmelzel said. “I told my caddie on the 14th hole that I needed to start making birdies or I was going to get left behind today.”
Sarah Schmelzel
The good result is a positive step for Lee in her return to the circuit as a mother, with her son accompanying her. Lilia Vu, Nasa Hataoka, Carlota Ciganda, Leona Maguire, and Somi Lee also shot a 64. Nelly Korda, who has yet to win this season after a year with seven victories in 2024, did not take advantage of the good scoring conditions. She had a 69 and will start the second round closer to the cut line than the lead.“In the last few weeks, when I started playing again, usually the strongest part of my game is my approach shots, my irons. I’m usually good with my numbers,” Lee said. “I felt like in the last few weeks that was my weakness. I couldn’t do well.
Alison Lee
