Jing Yan sometimes forgets to pack a jacket when she comes to Michigan for the Meijer LPGA Classic. With temperatures in the 50s until about 11 a.m., and the wind kicking up to gusts of 25 to 30 mph, layers were key in the opening round at Blythefield Country Club.
“Tell myself to just try and toughen up,” said Jing Yan, who shot 4-under 68 on Thursday to trail China’s Yan Liu by two. Yan, 30, praised the conditions of the course, calling it the best she’s seen in her time on tour.
Liu’s 6-under 66 included four birdies in five holes to close out the front side. She hit nine fairways, 14 greens and took only 27 putts.
“I feel before today, start my driver is kind of miss two ways, but I figure out by myself,” she said, smiling.
For a number of players near the top of the board, Thursday was a bright spot for the season. Italy’s Benedetta Moresco shot 68, her lowest round since late March. Moresco has missed four cuts in her last six starts.
Daniela Darquea, ranked 282nd in the world, made her previous three starts on the Ladies European Tour, where she has played most of the season. She’s trying to make the most of a rare week on the LPGA, opening with a 68.
“I feel like every year that I’ve been here the course has been playing a little bit different,” said Darquea. “I would say firmer, but today with the wind it was a big challenge. We were lucky. It wasn’t as firm as other years, so it was easier to like club. However, the winds picked up big time during the round, so it was quite interesting, very fun round to play.”
Juliaaaaaaa ace! 🚨
Julia Lopez Ramirez knocked in this ace early on thursday at the Meijer LPGA Classic pic.twitter.com/uk29pA2xM8
— LPGA (@LPGA) June 18, 2026
Spain’s Julia Lopez Ramirez, one of the longest players in the game, notched her first ace on the LPGA with a 7-iron from 170 yards on the par-3 13th.
“It was blowing pretty hard down there,” said Lopez Ramirez. “It was a left-to-right wind and we got a number that was basically my full 7-iron. I was saying, oh, maybe it’s a six. She was like, no, no, hit the seven. This is the club. Pitch like 2 meters short, like the perfect fade. Pitch 2 short, another bounce, and rolled in; throw the club up, hands in the air. I was like, no way.”
Lopez Ramirez opened with a 71.
Three-time major winner In Gee Chun and mom Azahara Munoz are in pack at 3 under. Hannah Green, Megan Khang and the statuesque rookie Helen Briem are among those at 2 under.
World No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul got off to a rough start, 4 over through her first 11 holes.
Beth Ann Nichols is a senior writer for Golfweek, covering the LPGA and women’s golf.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Cool temps, high winds rule opening day at Meijer LPGA Classic
