Mayakoba, Quintana Roo, May 22, 2025.- With a quadruple tie for first place, the first round of the MEXICO Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba, played at El Camaleón Golf Course, an event of the LPGA professional tour, which distributes 2.5 million dollars in prize money, and which has the participation of 144 players from 31 countries, ended with a four-way tie for first place.
Japan’s Chisato Iwai, South Korea’s Jenny Shin, the Philippines’ Bianca Pagdanganan and the United States’ Brianna Do, were the ones who best adapted to the course and weather conditions to complete the 18-hole round with a cumulative score of 68 strokes, four under par.
The 35-year-old American, who is 860 in the women’s world ranking, was the great revelation of the day, signing a card with a bogey, an eagle and three birdies, one of them on the 18th hole to tie her rivals for first place.
Japan’s Chisato, one of the LPGA’s rookie players this season, had a sensational round with five birdies on holes 2.5, 9, 14 and 18, with only a bogey on the 12th, to seal one of her best first rounds. For her part, the 32-year-old Korean, who is seeking her second professional victory at Mayakoba, had a spectacular second half of the round, and although she made a double bogey on the 16th hole, she made five birdies to take the lead.
Meanwhile, Philippine Pagdanganan, ranked 155th in the world, had an outstanding day with five birdies and a bogey, to place herself in a position to end a bad streak in her last four tournaments without being able to make the cut.
One stroke behind, 69 (-3), are tied for fifth place with Germany’s Aline Krauter and Olivia Cowan, 23-year-old American rookie Jenny Bae, Japan’s Minami Katsu, and Korea’s Hye-Jin Choi, 2015 world junior champion and this year’s ninth at the Chevron Championship.
Among the main favorites, Russia’s Nataliya Guseva, 74th in the world ranking, carded a two-under 70 to place tenth, tied with seven other players.
The British player Charley Hull, ranked 15th in the Rolex World Rankings and in search of her third LPGA title, finished in 25th place with a round of 72, even par. She was tied with Spain’s Carlota Ciganda, world No. 28, winner of the 2016 Lorena Ochoa Invitational and a three-time Olympian (2016, 2020, and 2024), and Switzerland’s Albane Valenzuela, who has Mexican heritage through her father, among other players.
María Fassi, from Hidalgo, was the best-placed Mexican among the eight who participated in the tournament’s first round. She signed a scorecard of 75, three over par, ending the day in a tie for 63rd place.
