Despite Concerns of Playing on Florida Grass and Grain, Haeran Ryu Takes Early Lead at The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican With 6-Under 64
By Doug Milne
BELLEAIR, Fla. - When Korea’s Haeran Ryu descended upon The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican this week, she did so cautiously. Having always experienced difficulty with grass and grain direction on Florida courses, the 24-year-old came with few expectations.
Perhaps she should head into more events with that kind of trepidation.
Beginning her round on No. 10, Ryu offset one bogey with seven birdies, including four straight on her 14th-17th holes en route to a 6-under 64. In relation to par, the score marks her lowest in a
first round since starting with a 6-under 66 at The Standard Portland Classic in August (T7).
“To be honest, I don't like Florida because my score is not usually good here,” Ryu said. “But, every year I hope I play well at this course. So, I'm very happy about the 64 today.”
Ryu found all 14 fairways off the tee and missed only three greens in regulation.
“I had a talk with my caddie about the grain [on the greens], because in Korea we don't have a lot of grain,” Ryu explained. “So, that has been hard to see the grain. I talked to my caddie about the grain on every hole, so that’s why I made a lot of putts today.”
In her first start in the event in 2023, Ryu used 5-under 65s in rounds three and four to finish T12. Last year, a third-round 6-under 64 resulted in a T20 finish at 5-under 275.
In her third season on Tour, Ryu is seeking her fourth LPGA title and second of the season after the Black Desert Championship presented by Greater Zion in early May.
Making her second start in The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, Australia’s Grace Kim offset one bogey – on her 17th hole – with six birdies to open with a 5-under 65. She will head into Friday’s second round one off the pace.
“I knew that wind was going to be up a little bit, and knowing this course is generally on the tougher side, I just played my own game,” Kim said. “I didn't focus too much on a specific score as such. I guess I took my chances on the shorter holes with wedges in. I made some nice putts, so I can hopefully carry that forward.”
Kim comes off a T16 showing in her most recent start at the Maybank Championship after closing with back-to-back 5-under 67s. She’s vying this week for her third career win on the LPGA and second of the season. In July, the 24-year-old opened with a 5-under 65 at The Amundi Evian Championship before finishing atop the leaderboard at 14-under 270.
In her only previous start at The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, Grace finished T23 in 2023.
Beginning her round on No. 1, American Jennifer Kupcho offset one bogey with one birdie on her outgoing nine to make the turn at even-par 35. She then reeled off five birdies in a seven-hole stretch (Nos. 11, 12, 14, 15 and 17) before finishing with a bogey at the last to post 4-under 66.
“Coming off the front nine, I was playing well and just kept hitting the ball well,” Kupcho said. “I was just having fun out there playing, I played really well, feeling like I was hitting the ball really well."
The 28-year-old is vying for her fifth win on the LPGA. In 21 starts this season, both top-10 finishes have come within her last five starts.
Making her sixth start in The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, two-time ANNIKA Award winner Leona Maguire opened with a 3-under 67. She will head into Friday’s second round three strokes back.
“I just played really solid, especially on the back nine,” Maguire said. “I gave myself a lot of chances on the front, but I kept leaving myself above the pin. On the back nine, I gave myself some shots below the hole, so, it was nice to see a few go in.”
Maguire’s 2015 and 2017 ANNIKA Awards came by virtue of her being voted the top female Division I collegiate golfer as voted upon by players, coaches and golf media members.
Maguire, a two-time LPGA winner, finished inside the top 10 at The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican in one of five previous starts: T10 in 2022.
“I think this is the course I've played the most on Tour. I’ve played it every year,” Maguire said. “You just have to hit good golf shots. It's a good golf course. I feel like it always brings out the best in everybody at this point in the season.”
From the up-and-down-round category, Gemma Dryburgh followed a bogey-par start on Nos. 10 and 11 with five consecutive birdies on Nos. 12-16. The 32-year-old Scot then took a bogey on the 17th and quadruple bogey on the par-4 18th. After making the turn in 1-over 36, Dryburgh would play her inward nine in even par, good for a 1-over 71.
As she continues mitigating a neck injury, 2021, 2022 and 2024 ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican champion Nelly Korda made 17 pars and one bogey (No. 18, her ninth hole of the day) to get in with a 1-over 71.
In her LPGA debut and playing, 18-year-old sponsor invitation Kai Trump opened her first LPGA event in 13-over 83. Poised for a fall of 2026 start on the University of Miami golf team, she is the granddaughter of President Donald Trump.
