The 21 Words Nelly Korda Said That Tell You Everything About the Queen City Championship

Alright, buckle up, golf fans, because the Kroger Queen City Championship just wrapped up Round 1 and things are already WILD! We've got a three-way tie at the top, but trust me, the real story is who's lurking just behind them, including the absolute titans of the game. Ina Yoon, Chella Choi, both out of South Korea, and Japan's Rio Takeda are all sitting pretty at 4-under par 66 at Maketewah Country Club. Pretty sweet, right? But hold on, because world No. 1 Nelly Korda and world No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul are both only a few shots back at 1-under, and they are absolutely ready to make some noise.

Ina Yoon's Eagle and Choi's Slip: The Leaders Are Fighting!

Man, the stories from the leaders are already legendary. Ina Yoon, chasing her first career LPGA Tour win, threw down an eagle on Thursday! Talk about making a statement. She started on the back nine, rolling with four birdies and three bogeys through 15 holes, a real up-and-down kinda day. But then BOOM, that eagle on the par-5 seventh hole, a birdie on the next, and a par to finish. She knows this course is a beast, saying the tee shot is "really tough" with "super narrow" fairways and crazy wind. But her putting was "great," saving her round. Yoon's coming off her best major finish, tying for fourth at the Chevron Championship, so she's got that momentum. She's just focused on her game, not the results, which is exactly what you want to hear. Then there's Chella Choi, who had her lone tour win way back in 2015. She was absolutely crushing it, six-under through 16 holes, looking untouchable! But then the golf gods reminded her who's boss: two bogeys to close out her round on Nos. 8 and 9, even slipping on her tee shot at No. 8. Ouch. She had "very good scrambling" and "really good par saves" though, so she battled hard. Rio Takeda was more steady, logging five birdies and just one bogey on her third hole of the day. These three are clearly fighting for every stroke out there.

Korda's Frustration: The Chase Is On!

Okay, so the leaders are doing their thing, but let's talk about the absolute heavyweights ready to pounce. Amanda Doherty, Lilia Vu, and Jin Young Ko are right there at 3-under, and New Zealand's Lydia Ko and England's Charley Hull are at 2-under. But the real headline, if you ask me, is Nelly Korda, the world No. 1, and Jeeno Thitikul, the world No. 2, both sitting at 1-under with 21 other players. Korda, fresh off back-to-back victories at the Chevron Championship and Riviera Maya Open, only managed two birdies and one bogey. You know that's not what she wanted. She called the course "really frustrating," pointing out the "really thick" rough and "difficult" pin locations. She's gotta dial in that driver to get more chances, she said. And then there's Thitikul! Her day was a total emotional rollercoaster, seriously! She had four bogeys in five holes on the front nine. Yikes! But then, like a phoenix rising, she ripped off five consecutive birdies. UNREAL. Only to then follow that up with back-to-back bogeys. You can't make this stuff up! This first round showed us that Maketewah Country Club is no joke, and absolutely anyone can make a run or fall back on any given hole. So, what does this all mean for Friday? It means we're in for a wild ride! With three players tied at the top and absolute legends like Korda and Thitikul breathing down their necks, every shot is going to matter. Will Yoon finally grab that first win? Can Choi recover? Or will one of the world's best find their rhythm and make a huge move? You know the Emerald City is watching, and we'll be glued to every single shot. Don't miss it!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.