Fast-starting Chizzy Iwai shoots 63
to take a 2-shot lead in Los Angeles
[April 17, 2026]
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Chizzy Iwai played her first seven holes
in 7 under, capped by an eagle on the par-5 16th, and shot a 9-under
63 on Thursday to take a two-stroke lead in the JM Eagle LA
Championship.
The tournament at El Caballero Country Club — the tree-lined layout
subbing for Wilshire Country Club for the second straight year
because of course renovations — is the final event before the major
Chevron Championship next week in Houston.
Former UCLA player Patty Tavatanakit was tied for second at 65 with
Sei Young Kim and Suvichaya Vinijchaitham.
Iwai opened her morning round with a par on No. 10, then birdied the
next five and eagled the 16th.
“Good tee time in morning, so very peaceful and I feel comfortable,”
the 23-year-old Japanese player said “I had a feeling so relaxing. I
had a good feeling.”
On her second nine, she added birdies on Nos. 1 and 5. She matched
the lowest score in the two years at El Caballero.
“A little bit thinking 58 or 59,” she said. “But golf is not easy.”
Iwai won the Mexico Riviera Maya Open last year for her first LPGA
Tour victory. Twin sister Akie Iwai was second a year ago at El
Caballero and won the Portland Classic last summer for her first
LPGA title. Akie Iwai shot 70 on Thursday, playing in the group
ahead of her sister.
Tavatanakit had eight birdies and a bogey in the morning session.
“My ball-striking felt really good,” Tavatanakit said. “Just a solid
day. Made a lot of putts.”
Lauren Coughlin, the winner two weeks ago at Shadow Creek outside
Las Vegas, topped the group at 66.
Hannah Green, the 2023 and 2024 winner at Wilshire, shot 67.
[to top of second column] |
Hannah Green hits from the fourteenth tee during the first round of
the LPGA's JM Eagle LA Championship golf tournament at El Caballero
Country Club Thursday, April 16, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP
Photo/Jessie Alcheh)
“I just feel very comfortable when I’m back here in
LA,” Green said. “Doesn’t really matter if it’s Wilshire.”
The Australian has three worldwide wins this year — the HSBC Women’s
World Championship on the LPGA Tour along with the Women’s
Australian Open and Australian WPGA.
Hyo Joo Kim was at 68 along with former UCLA star Lilia Vu. Kim
leads the tour with two victories, winning in consecutive weeks in
the Bay Area and Arizona.
Canadian amateur Aphrodite Deng also shot 68. Fellow amateur
Asterisk Talley had an early double bogey in a 70 in the
17-year-old's first start since losing the lead on the back nine at
the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
Defending champion Ingrid Lindblad shot 69. Former UCLA player
Alison Lee also shot 69 in her first event following maternity leave
in 2025.
Former University of Southern California player Lizette Salas had a
72. She's playing for the first time since 2024 after recovering
from a back injury.
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