Chandni Canan BauerMariel Galdiano, who has spent most of 2026 on the Epson Tour, opened The Standard Portland Classic with nine birdies and a seven-under 65 to take a one-shot lead at Columbia Edgewater Country Club.
It is the first time she has led after any LPGA Tour round. Seven players sit one behind at six under. Golf, occasionally, remembers to be democratic.
Galdiano Turns a Hot Putter Into Unfamiliar Territory
Galdiano needed only 22 putts and made more birdies in one round than she ever had before on the LPGA Tour. Reputation is useful in golf, right up until somebody starts writing numbers on a card.
“Yeah, I do a really good job staying in the moment, staying in the present. I was talking to one of my friends about it yesterday because she was struggling with it. Just kind of reminded me of like taking one shot at a time really.
Like we say that a lot but it’s really hard to do. I focus on where I want to go, where I want to hit it, and that’s just all I really do. I don’t look at the scoreboards, leaderboards, even my scorecard. I write my score and put it away. I just try and enjoy myself. It’s always a nice day out on the golf course.”
Nine birdies tend to improve the scenery.
Seven Players Crowd the Portland Classic Chase
Arpichaya Yubol, Olivia Cowan, Grace Kim, Hye-Jin Choi, Lauren Walsh, Bianca Pagdanganan and amateur Maria Jose Marin all signed for 66s. Yubol was bogey-free and required 23 putts; Kim mixed seven birdies and an eagle with two bogeys. The leaderboard is less a queue than a minor public-order problem.
“Yeah, I mean, again, like you said, it’s a birdiefest out here, so making sure I stay in the present, not get too greedy, and, yeah, just try and make heaps of birdies out there.”
Yubol’s putter supplied much of her explanation.
“All right, it’s kind of solid day for me, and then especially my putter. Today it’s just like 23 putt so that’s incredible. Like this is my first — I think that’s my first time I got to like 23 putt per round. And then, yeah, so it’s kind of consistent. Like fairway, mostly I can put the ball on the fairway, and then I can make like, how you say, consistent like with the par-4 second on, par-5 three on, and then can make a putt. And also it’s pretty good short game, too. I can save my life many hole too with my putter and short game.”
Maria Jose Marin Brings Amateur Trouble
Marin earned her place through victory at the 2026 Augusta National Women’s Amateur, then made eight birdies and closed her front nine with five straight.
She finished one behind Galdiano, continuing a season in which the Colombian has shown precious little interest in the traditional notion of amateurs keeping politely out of the way.
“It means a lot. I haven’t had my dad in the bag for a long time, almost a year, and it feels amazing to have him. It’s like he never left the bag for me. He knows my numbers. He knows every single break. Yeah, just rely on him so much. Having Shauna here means to much, too.
Going into my senior year and knowing I have her total support and the whole university support, it means a lot. I love it.”
There are quieter ways to prepare for senior year.
Walsh and Pagdanganan Find Some Freedom
Walsh’s 66 was her lowest round of the season and her first top-three position after an LPGA opening round.
“Yeah, honestly, it’s been really enjoyable, the highs and lows, everything in between. So I’ve really enjoyed myself out here. I’ve learnt a lot about myself and my game. Yeah, just kind of working on all those things to keep getting better. I had a great experience on the LET the last two years so kind of had the travel part down. But, yeah, no, it’s been nice to be playing against the best players in the world out here.”
Pagdanganan also shot 66, helped by an eagle and six birdies.
“Everything just felt pretty solid throughout the day. It’s been nice just being a little bit freer on the golf course; just physically, mentally, emotionally, all of it. If all the aspects kind of working you to tend to have a good day. I was also enjoying myself out there, which I knelt like I haven’t felt in a while. But, yeah, I love being out here. I love this event. I enjoy the golf course. So I think that’s kind of what helped me push through and have a good round today.”
One Round Down, No Breathing Room
Defending champion Aki Iwai opened at one over. Galdiano, meanwhile, has seven players within a shot and an amateur with very little interest in behaving like one. The tournament itself runs from 13–16 August at Columbia Edgewater, where Iwai won the 2025 edition.
For Galdiano, the contrast is considerable. Her LPGA profile shows $71,100 in career official earnings and no top-10 finishes, while much of her competitive progress this year has been made one level below on the Epson Tour.
The first round gave Galdiano the lead. The second will show how comfortably she carries it.
