Three players seized the early spotlight at the LPGA Queen City Championship on Thursday, as Rio Takeda, Yoon Ina, and Chella Choi shared the first-round lead at the "quirky" Maketewah Country Club in Cincinnati, Ohio.

South Korea's Yoon set the pace with an impressive round featuring an eagle and five birdies, finishing at four-under 66. She was joined by compatriot Choi, who looked unstoppable at six-under through 16 holes with six birdies but stumbled with back-to-back bogeys to close. Japan's Takeda rounded out the trio, carding five birdies and just one bogey for her share of the lead.

The leading pack sits one stroke ahead of a formidable group including 15-time LPGA winner Ko Jin-young of South Korea and Americans Lilia Vu and Amanda Doherty. Defending champion Charley Hull of England and New Zealand's Lydia Ko are just two shots back at 68, setting the stage for a thrilling weekend.

Hull, who claimed the title last September at TPC River's Bend, navigated the par-70 course with an eagle on the par-five seventh. Despite the chilly, windy conditions, she noted the course's scoring potential. "I do think it's quite a scorable golf course," Hull said. "There's a few little quirky holes out there that make it tricky, but I do think it is still quite scorable."

World number one Nelly Korda and second-ranked Jeeno Thitikul, the marquee names in a field featuring seven of the world's top 10, settled for one-under 69s. Korda, fresh off her third title of the year at the Riviera Maya Open two weeks ago, opened with eight straight pars before finding two birdies and a bogey. She hasn't finished worse than second in six starts this year, underscoring her dominance.

Jeeno, riding high after her second title of 2026 at the Mizuho Americas Open on Sunday, delivered a roller-coaster round. She carded seven birdies—including an electrifying five in a row from the seventh through the 11th—but also six bogeys, keeping her within striking distance.