Iwai Scorches El Caballero with 63, Takes Two-Stroke Lead at JM Eagle LA Championship
Chizzy Iwai caught fire early Thursday at El Caballero Country Club, playing her first seven holes in 7-under par en route to a tournament-leading 9-under 63 at the JM Eagle LA Championship.
The 23-year-old Japanese player built a two-stroke advantage in the final event before next week’s Chevron Championship in Houston, the year’s first major. El Caballero is hosting the tournament for the second straight year while Wilshire Country Club undergoes renovations.
Former UCLA standout Patty Tavatanakit sits in a three-way tie for second after posting a 7-under 65, alongside Sei Young Kim and Suvichaya Vinijchaitham.
Iwai’s morning round began quietly with a par on the 10th hole before she unleashed a remarkable birdie streak, making five straight before eagling the par-5 16th.
“Good tee time in morning, so very peaceful and I feel comfortable,” Iwai said. “I had a feeling so relaxing. I had a good feeling.”
She added two more birdies on her second nine, matching the lowest score recorded at El Caballero in the tournament’s two years at the venue. The hot start had her briefly entertaining thoughts of golf’s magic number.
“A little bit thinking 58 or 59,” she admitted. “But golf is not easy.”
What makes this story even more interesting is the family connection. Chizzy’s twin sister Akie Iwai finished second at El Caballero last year before capturing her first LPGA title at the Portland Classic. Akie shot a respectable 70 on Thursday, playing in the group ahead of her sister. Chizzy broke through with her own LPGA victory at the Mexico Riviera Maya Open last year.
Tavatanakit looked right at home on familiar Southern California turf, carding eight birdies against a lone bogey in her morning round.
“My ball-striking felt really good,” Tavatanakit said. “Just a solid day. Made a lot of putts.”
Lauren Coughlin, fresh off her victory at Shadow Creek outside Las Vegas, headlines the group at 6-under 66.
Two-time defending champion Hannah Green posted a solid 5-under 67. The Australian has been dominant in Los Angeles, winning the event at Wilshire in both 2023 and 2024.
“I just feel very comfortable when I’m back here in LA,” Green said. “Doesn’t really matter if it’s Wilshire.”
Green’s been on a tear in 2024, with three worldwide wins already—the HSBC Women’s World Championship on the LPGA Tour plus the Women’s Australian Open and Australian WPGA.
World-class talent Hyo Joo Kim, who leads the tour with two victories this season, opened with a 4-under 68. She’s coming off consecutive wins in the Bay Area and Arizona. Former UCLA star Lilia Vu also posted 68.
Canadian amateur Aphrodite Deng impressed with a 68 of her own. Fellow amateur Asterisk Talley, just 17, recovered from an early double bogey to shoot 70 in her first start since her heartbreaking back-nine collapse at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
Defending champion Ingrid Lindblad opened with a 3-under 69, while former UCLA player Alison Lee matched that score in her return to competition following maternity leave.
Former USC Trojan Lizette Salas shot 72 in her first tournament since 2024 after battling back from injury.
