Schmelzel and Katsu Share Early Lead at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G
By Jeremy Friedman
ROGERS, Ark. – Sarah Schmelzel shot her lowest round of her 2025 LPGA Tour season and her lowest round ever at this event today at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G. After starting out slow and in the middle of the pack making the turn, she closed with four birdies and an eagle to move up the leaderboard, tying Minami Katsu at 8-under par after today’s opening round at Pinnacle Country Club.
Schmelzel fed off the energy of the crowd in Northwest Arkansas as she began her second nine, looking at the scores and knowing she needed to go low to keep up.
“I told my caddie walking to the green on 14 I need to start making some birdies or else I’m going to get lapped out there today,” said Schmelzel. “There is not much sitting back and waiting and seeing how the week is playing out. You have to try and make as many birdies as you can.”
Joining Schmelzel atop the leaderboard is Minami Katsu, eight-time winner on the LPGA of Japan Tour and runner-up at the 2025 AIG Women’s Open. Katsu recorded a bogey-free Friday with eight birdies, also shooting her lowest round of the 2025 LPGA Tour season.
Six players stand one shot behind the leaders, including Alison Lee, who is competing in just her third LPGA Tour event back following giving birth to her son, Levi, in April. She also is feeding off of the energy of the Northwest Arkansas crowd in her return to competitive golf.
“This is one of the weeks where we get a pretty big crowd out here to come watch. I feel like we cultivated a great community here,” said Lee. “It does feel like a nice stop on the schedule where all of us can kind of feel like we have a little home away from home.
“When you shoot 7-under, golf feels so easy,” Lee continued. “I wish golf was always like that. That’s not the case but hopefully can continue to be easy for the next two days.”
Joining Lee at 7-under par includes Carlota Ciganda, 2021 champion Nasa Hataoka, Leona Maguire, Somi Lee and Lilia Vu.
Stacy Lewis, who announced her retirement from the LPGA Tour at the end of the 2025 season, finished out her round with a closing birdie to finish at 3-under and “Calling the Hogs.” But it wasn’t without nerves and emotions in playing in front of the hometown crowd.
“I was actually pretty nervous starting the day which hadn’t been link that in a while here,” said Lewis. Once I got off the first hole I felt a lot more comfortable. The hog calls at the end were great. It’s been a lot of fun.”
