2023 LPGA Chevron Championship: Live updates from Carlton Woods; Lilia Vu defeats Angel Yin on first playoff hole, leaps into lake

THE WOODLANDS, Texas — Old tournament, new site. That’s the story surrounding the 2023 Chevron Championship, which opened Thursday at The Club at Carlton Woods near Houston.

Last year marked the final playing at the iconic Mission Hills in California, an event that was captured by Jennifer Kupcho, the 20th-ranked player in the world.

Several players in this year’s field, including Nelly Korda and Lydia Ko, discussed the new venue and how it differs from Mission Hills, noting that the 6,824-yard track has a big feel to it.

CHEVRON: Leaderboard | Photos | Merchandise

Here’s a look at live updates from the LPGA’s first major of the year, now drenched in Texas flavor:

Gusty winds, severe hail possible

Although action got underway on Thursday as planned, severe weather could be sweeping through the area soon, according to the National Weather Service.

Gusty winds and severe hail is in the forecast for the region. The forecast is a little better on Friday, although scattered thunderstorms are still part of the forecast.

On Saturday, the skies should clear, but on Sunday more rain could roll in.

Lydia is lurking

Lydia Ko is lurking near the top of the leaderboard.

A cowboy hat for Texan Jin Young Ko? Not just yet

Jin Young Ko of Korea lines up a putt during the second round of the Pelican Women’s Championship at Pelican Golf Club on November 12, 2022, in Belleair, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Jin Young Ko is getting comfortable with Texas, as she’s a member at Trinity Forest Golf Club near Dallas, and she lives in Frisco, which is the home of the new PGA of America headquarters.

With the thick bermuda rough offering quite the challenge to the world’s best players, don’t be surprised if the South Korean finds herself in the thick of things come Sunday. She was listed as one of the favorites before the event started.

But does that mean she’s ready to go full Texan, donning a cowboy hat? Not according to a brief exchange in her pre-tournament interview. She also mentioned she’s ready to carry on a tradition of jumping into a pond if she wins.

Q: Since you’re living in Texas, I understand players are getting cowboy hats this week. Did you get one?

JYK: No.

Q. Do you want one?

JYK: I have boots. I don’t need hat.

Q. Would you jump if you win?

JYK: I’m ready, 100 percent.

Meet Eila Galitsky, the 10th grader near the top of the leaderboard

Ah, to be 16 and near the top of the leaderboard at a major.

Eila Galitsky, the 10th grader just two shots off the lead at the Chevron, says Natthakrita Vongtaveelap has been a big help to her. The two came off at almost the same time today. Galitsky carded a 2-under 70 and was just a pair of shots off the lead. Vongtaveelap countered with a 73.

When asked about the conversation with Vongtaveelap, who is only 20, Galitsky laughed.

“She said she almost tripled a hole and I’m like, that’s too bad. Better luck next time.”

Thailand’s Galitsky played her way into the year’s first major with her victory last month at the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific. The 16-year-old, who holds dual nationality of Thailand and Canada, won by five in Singapore with three birdies over the last four holes.

Here’s a look at all of the amateurs playing in this week’s event.

TV coverage rolls through the evening

The first LPGA major of the year is getting some major TV time this week on the NBC networks, including the Golf Channel. Here’s a complete look. (All times listed are ET)

• Thursday, April 20 – 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., 6-8 p.m. (Golf Channel, golfchannel.com. NBCSports.com, the NBC Sports App and Peacock)

• Friday, April 21 – 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., 6-8 p.m. (Golf Channel, golfchannel.com. NBCSports.com, the NBC Sports App and Peacock)

• Saturday, April 22 – 2-3 p.m. (Peacock), 3-4 p.m. (Golf Channel, golfchannel.com, NBCSports.com, the NBC Sports App and Peacock), 4-6 p.m. (NBC, golfchannel.com. NBCSports.com, the NBC Sports App and Peacock)

• Sunday, April 23 – 2-3 p.m. (Peacock), 3-4 p.m. (Golf Channel, golfchannel.com. NBCSports.com, the NBC Sports App and Peacock), 4-6 p.m. (NBC, golfchannel.com. NBCSports.com, the NBC Sports App and Peacock)

Deer (not real streakers) running on 18th hole

A herd of deer run across the fairway on the ninth hole the during the first round of the 2023 Chevron Championship at The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas. (Photo: Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

The Woodlands, as the name might imply, is heavy on trees and the 18th hole of Carlton Woods is a perfect area for wildlife to run free.

Our Beth Ann Nichols has seen plenty of deer running on the course, but LPGA communications director Christina Lance got quite a rise out of the on-site security team when she pointed the herd out.

Weather halts first round at 3:38 p.m.

As expected, the nasty stuff finally found its way to Houston and the first round was halted.

Distractions always seem to coincide with this week

Nelly Korda watches her tee shot on the 11th hole during the first round of the 2023 Chevron Championship at The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas. (Photo: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

An important new chapter began in the women’s game at this week’s Chevron Championship, where 51 years of Dinah desert history transferred over to Texas. Those who follow the LPGA closely have long noticed that Tiger Woods announcements coincidentally frequently happen in the middle of important weeks on the LPGA calendar.

Get caught up on the first round – and the off-course distractions – from Thursday’s first round.

Chien, Alex, Yin lead as play resumes

With play about to resume after weather issues, here’s how the leaderboard shakes out.

Nelly Korda within one of the lead

Nelly Korda waved in a long putt on the fifth hole – her 14th of the day – for a second straight birdie. That got her to 3 under, just a shot off the lead of Peiyun Chien.

On a rainy Thursday at the Nicklaus Course at The Club at Carlton Woods, Korda birdied all four par 5s in Round 1, pulling within one stroke of leader Peiyun Chien. Back-to-back birdies on her last two holes included a small, controlled 50-degree wedge to 1 foot to close out an opening 4-under 68.

“Overall, I played pretty well,” she said. “It was nice to finish the way I did with just a tap-in birdie, but made a couple mistakes here and there where it was more of the yardage where I was a little too aggressive and I left myself a little short-sided chip, and with the rain that we got during the delay, I wasn’t sure how it was going to react, bump-and-running it or flopping it.”

Here’s more on Nelly’s day from our Beth Ann Nichols.

First round complete, weather could be dicey on Friday

A fun first day at the 2023 Chevron Championship has Peiyun Chien in the lead and Nelly Korda close behind.

A band of thunderstorms is rolling through the Houston area on Thursday night, and the worst of the weather will continue until around 2 a.m., meaning the Nicklaus Course at The Club at Carlton Woods should be soft for Friday’s second round, if it’s playable.

Although the forecast calls for a little rain in the morning it should ease up through the day.

Second-round tee times delayed two hours

Snakes and gators, oh my! When it comes to jumping at Carlton Woods, beware

The sun is out and after a delay, the second round of the LPGA’s first major is underway.

With the event moving from the California desert to Texas, many have wondered if one of the few traditions in the women’s game would carry on at The Club at Carlton Woods. The pond that’s next to the 18th green at the Nicklaus Course is anything but pool water. It’s murky and natural, a stark contrast to the pristine waters at the Dinah Shore Tournament Course.

Nelly Korda said she’d jump if she wins. Defending champion Jennifer Kupcho, however, wasn’t so sure.

“I think there might be snakes in the water here,” said Kupcho, “so might be a little interesting.”

Stephen Salzman, the club’s general manager and chief operating officer, said the pond is now safe for players. He said the club’s engineering team and director of agronomy went through a number of possible scenarios in the months leading up to the championship. The club originally intended to dredge the entire area to deepen the pond. The Nicklaus design team, however, was afraid the green could potentially slough, so they changed course.

“We ended up building a dock,” said Salzman. “We ended up dredging from the end of the dock to about the rock wall border there. At the end of the dock, it’s 5 feet and progresses down to close to 10 feet.”

They sent divers down to check for rocks and concrete blocks beneath the surface. And for peace of mind, they installed a gator net to protect the area.

When asked if the net kept out snakes, Salzman said, no, but that snakes aren’t super prevalent in this pond. Neither are gators, but one can’t be too safe.

Here’s more on the story.

Watch: First-round extended highlights

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Shot of the day?

Let’s go to the par-4 sixth hole and catch up with Gemma Dryburgh.

After sizing up her second shot from the fairway, the 29-year-old from Scotland holed out for an eagle.

If you noticed her plain white hat, it’s because Dryburgh is seeking a sponsor for her headwear.

She’s not the only golfer at the Chevron this week seeking a logoed lid. Brittany Lincicome is also in the same spot.

Local HBCU Prairie View A&M streaming live from the Chevron Championship

Students from Prairie View A&M in the Inspiration Dome at the Chevron Championship at The Woodlands, Texas. (Photo by Tim Schmitt/Golfweek)

Just behind the ninth green at the Chevron Championship sits an impressive structure named the Inspiration Dome, half of which houses a VR experience sponsored by Accenture that taps into the life of an LPGA pro. In the other half of the dome is a state-of-the-art studio being used by the students at Prairie View A&M, an HBCU that sits less than an hour west of The Club at Carlton Woods.

According to Teresa Dowell-Vest, the director of the school’s film and TV production, the partnership with Accenture and Chevron gives students a unique opportunity.

“We have some avid golf supporters at Prairie View, not only of our women’s golf program but also just parents who love to get out on the green to play and inspire our young people to play,” she said. “So a couple of alumni, and some other avid golfers said, ‘hey, there’s something really dynamic happening at Prairie View in the television studio, perhaps we can do something at this particular event since it’s local. And long story short, five months of working with Chevron with working with Accenture and really putting together a great core of our students to come and broadcast here in the inspiration and here we are. 

“I think the great thing for our students is two-fold: One, it puts them in a professional setting. I see the LPGA no different than the NFL or the NBA and to be in a space where professional athletics are meeting with media, this is a great learning experience for them. And two, it’s just a lot of fun. How fun is it? So, this is a great opportunity for them to learn professional decorum, professional execution of media.”

Here’s a link to the live coverage.

Nelly Korda heating up near turn, pulls to within two

The soft conditions at The Club at Carlton Woods might have taken Nelly Korda a bit to get comfortable with, but she certainly seems to have found her groove, knocking down birdies on No. 6, 8 and 9 to get to 2 under for the day and 6 under for the tournament.

On No. 9, right in front of the media center, Korda drained a long birdie putt to pull within two of leader Lilia Vu.

Remembering Karrie Webb's eagle and the 10 greatest Chevron moments

Karrie Webb of Australia, left, and her caddie, Mike Paterson, jump into Champion’s Pond after Webb won the LPGA Kraft Nabisco Championship golf tournament on Sunday, April 2, 2006, at Mission Hills Country Club, in Rancho Mirage, Calif. Webb beat Lorena Ochoa of Mexico on the first play-off hole. (AP Photo/Francis Specker)

From Amy Alcott’s first plunge to Lexi Thompson’s rules fiasco, the drama was often sky-high on a course named after one of television’s most famous faces – Dinah Shore. After the 2022 event, now known as the Chevron Championship, moved away from Mission Hills for the first time in 50 years.

We ran through our top 10 moments, including the 2006 event, when Karrie Webb hit one of the greatest shots in major championship history, holing a pitching wedge for eagle from 116 yards on the 72nd hole. But that closing 7-under 65 wasn’t enough to seal the deal. She then had to defeat Lorena Ochoa in a playoff, giving the Aussie her seventh major title. “I think my heart just about jumped out of my chest,” said Webb, “because it was aching for about five minutes after.”

Here’s a look at the top 10 moments, according to our Beth Ann Nichols.

Vu leads but a pair of major champions are closing in

After following up Thursday’s 68 with a streaky 69 on Friday, Lilia Vu walked off the Nicklaus Course at The Club at Carlton Woods atop the leaderboard that also features names like Patty Tavatanakit and Nelly Korda.

It’s a far cry from that first year, when Vu made just one cut in nine starts and took home a whopping $3,830 in prize money. The winner at the LPGA’s first major of the year takes home $765,000.

Here’s more of her story as she leads after 36 holes.

Wet weather let players get aggressive on Friday

Patty Tavatanakit drives off the 18th tee during the second round of the 2023 Chevron Championship. (Photo: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports)

As the sun starts to near the horizon at The Club at Carlton Woods, the sun is shining brightly and soft breezes have started to dry out the course.

But that wasn’t the case this morning, as the course was saturated from overnight rains. Here’s what some of the leaders had to say about the conditions.

Nelly Korda: “Two rounds on two kind of completely different golf courses. The setup, it was moved up a good bit. We played lift, clean and place. It was very wet out there, a lot of mud balls, and the greens were really soft as well compared to yesterday. Two rounds and two kind of completely different golf courses, so it was fun.”

Patty Tavatanakit: “I knew it was going to be wet, but on the greens, if anything, it would be a little softer, so I could go after it a little bit more. Especially the first couple holes, I hit some good shots, and just seeing how it reacts just walking on it, it really felt it was softer. We got adjusted pretty well and executed accordingly.”

Lilia Vu: “Really happy to finish today. I think the weather was pretty nice for us, no rain, just a little bit of wind. Yeah, I’m happy, and then just going to go home and see my physio and get ready for tomorrow.”

Cheyenne Knight: “The fairways are soft, and I hit it pretty straight off the tee to begin with, so I didn’t really have to worry about running through the fairway or anything like that. Yeah, my driving accuracy is probably one of my strengths.”

Amateur zooms from Pac-12s into top 25

Amari Avery at the 2023 Chevron Championship at The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas. (Photo: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Fresh off a team victory at the Pac-12 Championship on Wednesday, USC sophomore Amari Avery felt her eyes start to shut around 1 a.m. early Thursday. Later that day, she teed off in the first round of the Chevron Championship without having ever seen the golf course.

Avery has done more than secure a spot on the weekend. A second-round 69 puts her at 2 under for the tournament at the Nicklaus Course at the Club at Carlton Woods.

Driver off the deck? Brooke Henderson isn't afraid

Using a driver from off the fairway in each of her first two rounds, Brooke Henderson has shot up into a tie for fourth place after the first two rounds of play.

Henderson said it’s a shot she’s not afraid to play.

“Yeah, I love that shot, and the lies are good around here, so I’m able to connect pretty well and get it up around the green like yesterday, which is always fun. Had another one out there today, so it’s nice when I can do that shot.”

Henderson shot a 67 in the second round and is now 6 under for the tournament. She tees off on Saturday at 11:34 a.m. local time (CT).

Scratch that: Henderson has struggled on Saturday

After making a charge late in her second round, Brooke Henderson fell well down the leaderboard on Saturday during the third round.

The Canadian opened by going 5 over on his first four holes, and finished the front in 40, dropping her to 2 under for the tournament.

Henderson has finished in the top 20 in six of her last starts at this event, although those were all in California. She nearly won the 2020 ANA Inspiration, but lost in a playoff to Mirim Lee.

Celine Boutier lurking midway through third round

Celine Boutier of France walks up the fairway on the eighth hole during the first round of The Chevron Championship at The Club at Carlton Woods on April 20, 2023, in The Woodlands, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

After an opening-round 73, Celine Boutier has stayed steady and is still in contention through the early afternoon on Saturday, sitting a handful of shots behind the leaders after an even 36 on the front left her at 4 under for the tournament.

With double-digit professional wins under her belt, Boutier continues to gain form. After beating Georgia Hall in a playoff at the LPGA Drive On Championship in March and with top-10 finishes in four of the five women’s majors, Boutier looks to be a player in all the major championships this season and beyond.

Here’s a look at Boutier through the years in photos.

Watch: Third-round highlights from the Chevron Championship

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A near miss

She just missed rolling in a bunker and then just missed out on a 2 on a par 5. Wild near-miss for Maja Stark.

Clogged leaderboard

A Lim Kim rolled in a long putt on the 7th hole to make it very crowded atop the leaderboard at 10 under.

First to 11 under at Carlton Woods

Angel Yin still has work to do but on the 13th hole Sunday, she stuffed her approach close and then made a birdie putt to take the solo lead at 11 under. Her nearest challenger is Atthaya Thitikul, a shot back but who’s also only got two holes left.

Vu gets to 10 under, posts 68

Lilia Vu looks on from the first tee during the final round of the 2023 Chevron Championship. (Photo: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports)

Lilia Vu is the clubhouse leader after posting a 68 on Sunday. Vu got to double digits under par after a birdie on the 18th hole to pull within a shot of Angel Yin.

And now she waits, as Yin still has four holes to play.

Nelly Korda drains long eagle at the last

It was too little, too late but Nelly Korda rolled in a long putt on the par-5 18th hole for an eagle and final-round 71, the flashed a big smile.

Korda got to 9 under for the week but it was one stroke off the 68 posted by clubhouse leader Lilia Vu.

Heading to a playoff: Yin vs. Vu

Angel Yin drained a no-doubt birdie putt on the 18th hole to force a playoff with Lilia Vu.

Yin shot a 72, Vu a 68 to become the final two golfers standing. It’s the third playoff in last four playings of this major.

Little drama in the playoff

Angel Yin and Lilia Vu replayed the par-5 18th hole to start the playoff.

Yin’s second shot was short and left and went into the lake that fronts the 18th green. It splashed down right next to a slew of photographers. Vu then hit her approach long, over the back side of the green but dry.

Vu putted from off the green with her third shot but left herself about 10 feet away from the hole. She then calmly drained her birdie putt to win the Chevron Championship for her first major championship and her second LPGA win in 2023.

Tradition continues

The winner’s leap into the lake continued in 2023 at the Chevron Championship as Lilia Vu ran off the platform and into the water.

Story originally appeared on GolfWeek