Andrea Lee caught fire late in her opening round at Mountain Ridge, closing with four birdies in her final five holes to post a 6-under 66 at the Mizuho Americas Open. She leads Jeeno Thitikul and Lydia Ko by one shot after day one in West Caldwell, New Jersey.
Lee’s performance stood out on a challenging day where only nine players broke 70 on the demanding layout.
“I really didn’t see 6 under today to be honest,” Lee said. “The game plan was just staying really patient, trying to hit as many greens and fairways as possible, and just know that pars is good score.”
Mountain Ridge, hosting this event for the first time, demands precision off the tee and strategic approach shots to its contoured, slick greens. The course previously hosted the Founders Cup in 2021.
World No. 1 Nelly Korda isn’t in the field after winning her last two starts, including The Chevron Championship.
Thitikul, who recently lost the top ranking to Korda, bounced back from missing the cut at The Chevron with an impressive 67. She overcame a slow start by taking advantage of a favorable lie in the rough on the par-5 eighth, ripping her approach to 20 feet and converting the eagle putt.
“Wasn’t a good beginning, but ended up really nice,” she said.
The Thai star closed with a precise pitching wedge to 2 feet on the par-3 16th. She believes the course could play significantly tougher as the week progresses.
“If they’re not watering the green, and if we get really breezy coming in a couple of days, should be tough, for sure,” Thitikul said. “That’s why I’m saying it’s like a major.”
Ko also navigated the challenging layout effectively after an early bogey on the 11th hole (her second of the day). She responded with a birdie-eagle stretch and added two more birdies to close her front nine.
The Kiwi star is wielding yet another new putter this week and feels it’s working well.
“There are some putts you’re aiming so far out that hole is not even in your peripheral vision anymore,” Ko said. “It reminds me a little bit of Lancaster Country Club where we played the U.S. Women’s Open a couple years ago. That was some of the sloppiest and fastest greens I had played on. I did not putt well there. This is a good start.”
Brooke Matthews had a chance to share the lead but made double bogey on her final hole for a 68, dropping into a tie with Hye-Jin Choi. Hannah Green and Nasa Hataoka are among those at 69.
Tournament host Michelle Wie-West, competing for the first time in three years, struggled to an 82 that included two double bogeys and a triple bogey. The mother of two is using this event as preparation for her final U.S. Women’s Open appearance next month at Riviera.
“Golf can take you places, and I went places today,” she said. “But you’ve got to see the big picture at the end of the day. I’m so proud of what we built here.”
She wasn’t alone in her struggles. Three other players failed to break 80, including world No. 10 Lottie Woad and Brianna Do, who shared the 36-hole lead with Korda at the recent Riviera Maya Open.
The tournament features a separate Stableford competition for 24 top junior players from the American Junior Golf Association, providing a unique format in women’s professional golf.
