Melanie Green’s hole-in-one surprise propelled her to a 6-under 66 and a share of the lead with Brianna Do after the first round of the Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba.
Meanwhile, Nelly Korda showed no signs of a post-major letdown. Playing in the windier afternoon conditions that made El Camaleon’s fairways look even tighter, she posted a solid 68 just four days after winning the year’s first major.
Green’s ace came at the par-3 15th, her sixth hole of the day, when her 7-iron landed about 20 feet short of the hole and rolled in. The LPGA rookie had no idea she’d made it.
“I was like, ‘OK, great shot. Phenomenal.’ Grab the putter — normally hit the green, grab the putter, it’s a cool effect.’ Then we’re walking up and I’m looking at the green. There is no ball,” Green said.
She momentarily felt embarrassed, handing her caddie the putter and taking a wedge to chip. That’s when her caddie repaired the pitch mark, glanced in the hole, and spotted her golf ball, recognizable by the cross mark she uses.
She thought he was joking.
“I walk up there and all I could see was the cross. I was so excited,” Green said. “Yeah, thought I just went way left. But whatever. Good bounce.”
Green rode that momentum to a front-nine 30 that included five birdies along with the ace. A bogey on her final hole was the only blemish on an otherwise exceptional round.
Do caught fire early in her afternoon round, before the wind reached full strength. She opened with four birdies in her first five holes, dropped a shot at No. 9, then played a clean back nine with three more birdies to match Green’s 66.
The wind actually seemed to help Do’s game. “I think for some reason playing in the wind helps me kind of just play golf, instead of like playing a golf swing,” she explained.
Korda Continues Strong Play
Nelly Korda honored her commitment to Mayakoba despite being the only top-10 player in the field. Her performance validated that decision. Starting on the back nine, she made the turn with a beautiful 7-iron that set up a 15-foot eagle putt.
Korda’s scoring came exclusively on the par 5s — three birdies and an eagle — with just one bogey on her card. That efficiency proved crucial in the challenging conditions.
“The fairways are really tight,” Korda said. “When it gets gusty like this it is harder to hold them, so just hit solid drives.”
Carlota Ciganda managed a 67 despite playing the par 5s in even par. Korda’s 68 put her in a group that included Gaby Lopez and Japan’s Erika Hara.
The wind coming off the Gulf of Mexico presented a consistent challenge throughout the day, particularly for the afternoon wave. But those who embraced the conditions rather than fighting them seemed to fare best on day one at El Camaleon.
