Staff WriterIf you were looking for fireworks at the Kroger Queen City Championship, Chanettee Wannasaen just lit the fuse.
The Thai star tore around TPC River’s Bend with a bogey-free 63, tying the tournament’s 18-hole scoring record and putting herself squarely in the driver’s seat after round one.
Wannasaen’s round was clinical: 12 of 14 fairways, 16 greens in regulation, and just 26 putts. It was her lowest-ever opening score on the LPGA Tour and the first time she’s led a non-team event after the first round. Not bad for a player who only managed a 71 to start here last year.
“Yeah, so after AIG I had the week off in Thailand… I think so that why I have a little bit struggle in my swing,” Wannasaen explained, crediting her friend Wichanee Meechai for spotting a small alignment tweak.
“She just told me like, can you come close. And then my feet a little bit wide open, so needs — like can you a little bit closer and then the right feet a little bit up, like this.”
Chasing the Leader
Hot on her heels is American Gigi Stoll, who delivered a career-best 65. She stuffed six birdies and an eagle into her card before a lone bogey at 17 spoiled the fun. For Stoll, the key has been balance both on and off the course.
“Yeah, I mean, golf is a funny game. You’re always really close to playing really well,” she said. “It’s been nice being able to go home and relax, and it’s been a great balance for me.”
Six players are tied at six-under, including Patty Tavatanakit, Sei Young Kim, Jenny Bae, A Lim Kim, Kum Kang Park, and Peiyun Chien—who must have had her coffee early, rattling off three straight birdies to open her round.
Jenny Bae, making her Kroger Queen City Championship debut, closed with a bang—rolling in an eagle putt on 18. “I had about I would say 17 feet and I told myself, look, you’ve made more long putts than you ever did short putts today. Let’s just give this a try. Confidently stroked it and just went right in the middle of the hole.”
Records and Context
Wannasaen now joins Lydia Ko in the tournament’s 63 club, alongside Nasa Hataoka and Jeongeun Lee6, all of whom etched their names into history over the past three years. Ko still owns the 72-hole record (265 in 2024), but the way scores are dropping, it’s anyone’s guess whether that number will hold.
Other big names kept themselves in the hunt. World No. 1 Nelly Korda posted a 67, leaning on the par-5s. “I would say you have to be fairly aggressive on the par-5s. A lot of the par-5s are pretty gettable, so making sure you capitalize on them if you have the length,” she noted.
What’s Next
The Kroger Queen City Championship has quickly become a score-fest, and with soft conditions this year, players are firing at pins like they’ve got a grudge against them. Wannasaen may be smiling at the top now, but with Stoll and a half-dozen others nipping at her heels, the second round promises plenty of drama.
As Peiyun Chien put it best: “This is my last chance to get in Asia tour, so I have to finish well this week.” Translation? The chase is on, and no one’s backing down.
