Two-time LPGA winner Chanetti Wanathan punched a hole in the eagle on his way to a 9-under par 63 on Thursday after the first round of the Queen City Championship in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Thai Chanetty added seven birdies to his bogie-free efforts at TPC River’s Bend. There, American Gigi Stole last shook off the late bogey with a birdie and posted a 65 under.
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Chanet’s round was highlighted by the Eagle on the 10th of the par 4, hitting a “perfect shot” with nine irons from the fairway, where he found the bottom of the cup.
“After I got a hit, I felt like, ‘Oh, this would be getting closer to the pin’,” she said. “I didn’t expect it to roll over the pin!”
The 21-year-old won Portland in 2023 and won the Dana Open last year, but was frustrated by his 2025 campaign, including a tie that ranked 43rd in the Evian Championship.
After feeling “I can’t hit the ball” in recent weeks, she checked in with her coach last week and gave a confidence boosting performance on Thursday.
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“In fact, I played really well today,” she said, adding that she was solid with every club she had in her bag. “I just want to continue to be a hit like this until the end of the year.”
Stoll chased her first LPGA title and was 7 under before bogey at age 17.
She rebounded with a 65-man closing birdie, clearing one stroke from a group of six players who share third place with 66.
This included 12-time LPGA winner Kim Sei-Young. He won three birdies in the first nine holes before five birdies and two bogeys arrived.
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“I was very sturdy and especially played nine backs,” said Kim, who was joined by compatriot Kim A. Lim, who eagled the 18th, and Park Kum Kang along with Pati Tabatanakit of Thailand, Chen Pae-Yun of Taiwan and Jenny Bae of America.
World No. 2 Nelly Corda has found headlines for four shared nine shared groups, including Gabriella Raffel of Australia, Bianca Pagdanganan of the Philippines and Julia Lopez Ramirez of Spain, with the card with 5 under par 67.
Thailand’s world number one Jeeno Thitikul opened at a 3-under 69, with New Zealand defending champion Lydia Ko having a 70 card.
BB/JGC
