LOS ANGELES — Chizzy Iwai performed her first seven holes in 7 below, capped by an eagle on the par-5 sixteenth, and shot a 9-under 63 on Thursday to take a two-stroke lead within the JM Eagle LA Championship.
The event at El Caballero Country Club — the tree-lined structure subbing for Wilshire Country Club for the second straight 12 months due to course renovations — is the ultimate occasion earlier than the foremost Chevron Championship subsequent week in Houston.
Former UCLA participant Patty Tavatanakit was tied for second at 65 with Sei Young Kim and Suvichaya Vinijchaitham.
Iwai opened her morning spherical with a par on No. 10 then birdied the subsequent 5 holes earlier than eagling the sixteenth.
“Good tee time in morning, so very peaceful and I feel comfortable,” the 23-year-old Japanese participant mentioned. “I had a feeling so relaxing. I had a good feeling.”
On her second 9, she added birdies on Nos. 1 and 5. She matched the bottom rating within the two years at El Caballero.
“A little bit thinking 58 or 59,” she mentioned. “But golf is not easy.”
Iwai gained the Mexico Riviera Maya Open final 12 months for her first LPGA Tour victory. Twin sister Akie Iwai was second a 12 months in the past at El Caballero and gained the Portland Classic final summer season for her first LPGA title. Akie Iwai shot 70 on Thursday, taking part in within the group forward of her sister.
Tavatanakit had eight birdies and a bogey within the morning session.
“My ball-striking felt really good,” Tavatanakit mentioned. “Just a solid day. Made a lot of putts.”
Lauren Coughlin, the winner two weeks in the past at Shadow Creek outdoors Las Vegas, topped the group at 66.
Hannah Green, the 2023 and 2024 winner at Wilshire, shot 67.
“I just feel very comfortable when I’m back here in L.A.,” Green mentioned. “Doesn’t really matter if it’s Wilshire.”
The Australian has three worldwide wins this 12 months: the HSBC Women’s World Championship on the LPGA Tour together with the Women’s Australian Open and Australian WPGA.
Hyo Joo Kim was at 68 together with former UCLA star Lilia Vu. Kim leads the tour with two victories, profitable in consecutive weeks within the Bay Area and Arizona.
Canadian novice Aphrodite Deng additionally shot 68. Fellow novice Asterisk Talley had an early double bogey in a 70 within the 17-year-old’s first begin since dropping the lead on the again 9 on the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
Defending champion Ingrid Lindblad shot 69. Former UCLA participant Alison Lee additionally shot 69 in her first occasion following maternity go away in 2025.
Former USC participant Lizette Salas had a 72. She is taking part in for the primary time since 2024 after recovering from a again damage.
