Lauren Walsh is just one shot off the lead after a superb six-under-par 66 to open her challenge at the LPGA’s Portland Classic at Colombia Edgewater Country Club.
The LPGA rookie came into the week ranked 57th in the Race to CME Globe rankings and on course to make the 60-player season-ending CME Group Tour Championship at the first time of asking which would be an impressive achievement.
She began in the morning wave in round one and got off to the perfect start with a birdie on the first. Three more followed on the front nine – the par-5 fifth and seventh holes, and the par-4 ninth – and she made the turn at four-under.
Despite failing to birdie the par-5 10th, she then reeled off three-in-a-row from the 11th to move to -7 and into sole possession of the early lead, before a dropped shot on 18 – the only blemish on her card – pulled her back to -6 and she reached the clubhouse in solo second place and she retained a share of that position throughout the afternoon.
It wasn’t quite a vintage performance tee-to-green – she hit eight of 14 fairways, and 13 of 18 greens in regulation – but her short game was exquisite and she only took 24 putts for 18 holes.
Stephanie Meadow, making just her sixth start of the season, shot a one-under 71 to share 61st, while Leona Maguire is one shot further adrift and the wrong side of the provisional cutline after shooting a level-par 72.
Mariel Galdiano posted a seven-under 65 in one of the first groups and watched it hold up for a one-stroke lead after the first round was completed.
Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion Maria Jose Marin of Colombia is among those tied for second with Walsh, as are Arpichaya Yubol, Olivia Cowan, Grace Kim, Hye-Jin Choi, and Bianca Pagdanganan.
Haeran Ryu, the winner of consecutive majors this year at the KPMG Women’s PGA and Evian Championship, topped a large group at 67.
The 20-year-old Marin had five straight birdies on the front nine. She’s preparing for her senior season at Arkansas, where she was the 2025 NCAA individual champion.
“I think I reached like a flow state that I haven’t reached in a while,” Marin said. “After the British Open I didn’t play my best golf, and I think getting that confidence back with this round is all that I needed.”
Her father is working as her caddie.
“I fully trust every break that he gave me,” she said.
Galdiano is making her fourth LPGA Tour start of the year. The 28-year-old from Hawaii played at UCLA.
“Every start on the LPGA means a lot to me, so just enjoy the moment really,” Galdiano said.
Playing in the second group of the day off the first tee, Galdiano had nine birdies and two bogeys on the on the tree-lined layout.
“I love coming up to the Pacific Northwest,” Galdiano said “Like great weather, good food. It’s kind of close to Hawaii for me, so I feel pretty relaxed out here.”
Lexi Thompson opened with a 73, two days after announcing that she’s going to be a mother. Thompson posted on Instagram a photo with husband Max Provost and photos of the sonogram of a girl due in February.
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