Following the first 18 holes of LPGA Final Qualifying (formerly named LPGA Q-Series), Yu Liu leads the 99-player field after a 9-under 62 in her first appearance in the final stage of the LPGA and Epson Tour Qualifying Series. Players that finish in the top 25 and ties will earn 2024 LPGA Tour Membership following the 90-hole competition.

Liu, who was a 2018 LPGA Tour rookie following one year at Duke University, went bogey-free on the Falls course at Magnolia Grove. She carded her first birdies of the day on Nos. 3 and 4 before adding two more before the turn on 6 and 9. She carried that momentum through to the back nine, where she holed out for eagle on the par-4 12th and posted back-to-back birdies on 13 and 14. She made one final birdie on the day on No. 16 to carded the lowest round on the Falls Course since 2021.

“I feel like I really like Robert Trent Jones golf courses. It's really fun for me to play,” said Liu. “I feel like it suits my game pretty well. I just have a pretty comfortable feeling which is right off the tee. And today I know the weather's condition is going to be quite tough, which it helps me sort of mentally prepare for coming into today. I think I just had a really good flow to my round today.”

Close behind is Epson Tour winner Isi Gabsa, who carded the lowest score of the day on the Crossings Course, an 8-under 64 to sit in second. Her bogey-free effort was highlighted by eight birdies, including three on the par-5 4, 6 and 16. This is Gabsa’s third return in four years to the final stage of Qualifying School, as she hopes to secure LPGA Tour status once again in Mobile, Ala.

“Putting was amazing. I just made a lot of putts,” explained Gabsa after round one. “Irons were pretty good and just gave myself a lot of birdie chances and lucky enough, I got to make a lot of putts. I got injured last year at this or two years ago at this event. So just staying healthy and doing my exercises, stretching and just take it one step at a time.”

Miyu Yamashita, a 13-time JLPGA winner, is currently in solo third after a 66 on the Falls Course. This is Yamashita’s first start at Final Qualifying in her career and is one of seven Japanese players teeing it up this week at Magnolia Grove. The 2024 Paris Olympian, who finished in a tie for fourth at Le Golf National, most recently won on the JLPGA on Nov. 17 at the 43rd DAIO PAPER Elleair Ladies Open. Yamashita carded six birdies total on Thursday, with five of them coming in her final seven holes.

American Gurleen Kaur and Republic of Korea’s Ina Yoon sit in a tie for fourth at 5-under, while five players are tied for sixth at 4-under, including Manon De Roey, who finished second this season on the Ladies European Tour’s Order of Merit.

There were 39 players who finished under par after the first round, including 2005 LPGA Tour rookie Alena Sharp (T6, -4). Of the three past amateurs that turned professional following the Qualifying stage, Julia Lopez Ramirez – who played at Mississippi State – leads the trio after a 3-over 74 on the Falls Course (T67).

Yu Liu Cards First-Round 62, Leads LPGA Final Qualifying

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