Three players—Chella Choi, Ina Yoon, and Rio Takeda—are tied for the lead after the first round of the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G at Maketewah Country Club in Bond Hill, Ohio. The trio sits at 4-under par, setting the stage for an exciting weekend of LPGA action.

Chella Choi, a 35-year-old veteran, was the first to post 4-under, though she briefly touched 6-under before bogeys on her final two holes—her first of the round. This marks a significant return for Choi, who has played in just one event over the last two seasons after giving birth. Her lone LPGA victory came at the 2015 Marathon Classic, and fans will be eager to see if she can channel that past success.

Ina Yoon, the South Korean rising star, joined the lead shortly after. She surged into contention with an eagle on her 16th hole and a birdie on her 17th, carrying momentum into Friday’s second round. Yoon has been on a tear this season, with a fourth-place finish at the JM Eagle L.A. Championship and a tie for fourth at the Chevron Championship. She’s also riding a streak of eight consecutive made cuts, a testament to her consistency.

Rio Takeda posted the low round among afternoon starters, carding a clean 5-under with five birdies and just one bogey. The young Japanese player has already tasted victory on the LPGA Tour, winning the 2025 Blue Bay LPGA, and she’ll look to add another trophy to her collection here.

Defending champion Charley Hull is also in the mix, finishing at 2-under and tied for seventh. The English star will aim to climb the leaderboard as the tournament progresses.

This year’s event marks a shift in venue to Maketewah Country Club, which has proven more challenging than last year’s course at TPC River’s Bend. In 2025, 92 players were under par after the first round, with seven at 6-under or better. Here, only 29 players are in red figures, with the morning wave averaging 72.1 and the afternoon group at 72.7. The tighter scoring reflects a course that demands precision and patience.

With 16 of the world’s top 20 players in the 144-golfer field, the competition is fierce, and a $2 million purse is on the line. For fans of the game, this tournament is shaping up to be a thrilling test of skill and endurance.