ROGERS, Ark. — Jasmine Suwannapura birdied the ultimate two holes for an 8-under 63 and the highest spot Friday on a leaderboard crowded with Arkansas Razorbacks within the LPGA Tour’s Walmart NW Arkansas Championship.
Opening in gusty morning circumstances at Pinnacle Nation Membership, Suwannapura performed the again 9 in 5-under 30, closing with the birdies on the par-3 seventeenth and par-5 18th.
“We simply have enjoyable on the market,” mentioned Suwannapura, the 31-year-old Thai participant with two profession LPGA Tour victories. “Preserve the momentum going. We actually play with the wind right now. Obtained fairly gusty, too.”
Former College of Arkansas star Maria Fassi was a shot again with Liqi Zeng, Carlota Ciganda and Ashleigh Buhai. Fassi, from Mexico, capped her faculty profession with the 2019 NCAA particular person title.
“To have among the present Razorbacks be on the tee there within the morning was very particular,” Fassi mentioned. “For me, it was an excellent day.”
A type of present Arkansas gamers on the tee with Fassi — Maria Marin of Colombia — discovered herself on the leaderboard close to Fassi, too, after a 65.
“For me to be right here is sort of a privilege,” Marin mentioned. “In fact, I work actually, actually arduous all season final 12 months to be right here and to get the exemption. It’s simply nice.”
Suwannapura is a hundred and tenth on the earth rating. She gained her final tour title in 2019, teaming with Cydney Clanton within the Dow Nice Lakes Bay Invitational.
“I feel it’s everyone’s sport tomorrow,” Suwannapura mentioned. “I do know a variety of ladies out right here going to go low. I hope I can go low the subsequent two days. We’ll see what occurs.”
The 18-year-old Zeng, from China, had 5 straight birdies on Nos. 14-18 on her first 9. Yu Liu and Dottie Ardina matched Marin at 65.
Gaby Lopez, one other former Arkansas star from Mexico, topped the group at 66.
“Everyone seems to be right here for the Razorback Nation,” Lopez mentioned.
Victorious Solheim Cup captain Stacy Lewis, yet one more former Arkansas participant, was at 69. She gained the 2014 occasion.
Defending champion Haeran Ryu shot 69. Lilia Vu, the No. 2 participant on the earth rating, had a double bogey and three bogeys in a 71.
