ROGERS, Ark. — Jasmine Suwannapura carded the final two holes for an 8-under 63 and the top spot Friday on a leaderboard full of Arkansas Razorbacks at the LPGA Tour’s Walmart NW Arkansas Championship.
Opening under hot morning conditions at Pinnacle Country Club, Suwannapura played back-to-back 5-under 30s, closing with birdies on the 3rd 17th and 5th 18th.
“We just had fun out there,” said Suwannapura, the 31-year-old Thai who has won twice on the LPGA Tour. “Keep up the momentum. We’re really playing with the wind today. We’ve got a hot wind, too.”
Former University of Arkansas player Maria Fassi is pictured with Liqi Zeng, Carlota Ciganda and Ashleigh Buhai. Fassi, from Mexico, capped his college career with a 2019 NCAA individual title.
“Having the other Razorbacks there in the morning was really important,” Fassi said. “For me, it was a good day.”
One of those current Arkansas players playing with Fassi — Colombia’s Maria Marin — found herself on the leaderboard next to Fassi, too, 65 years later.
“My being here is like a privilege,” said Marin. “Yeah, I worked really hard all season last year to be here and get the release. It’s great.”
Suwannapura is ranked 110th in the world. He won his last tour title in 2019, partnering Cydney Clanton at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational.
“I think it’s everybody’s game tomorrow,” Suwannapura said. “I know a lot of girls out here are going to come down. I’m hoping to come down in the next two days. We’ll see what happens.”
The 18-year-old Zeng, from China, had five straight birdies on Nos. 14-18 in his opening nine. Yu Liu and Dottie Ardina were matched with Marin at 65.
Gaby Lopez, another former Arkansas star from Mexico, topped the group with 66.
“Everybody’s here for Razorback Nation,” Lopez said.
Victorious Solheim Cup captain Stacy Lewis, another former Arkansas player, was 69. He won the 2014 event.
Defending champion Haeran Ryu shot a 69. Lilia Vu, the No. 2 player in the world, had a double bogey and three bogeys in 71.
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