Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — The opening round of the Mexico Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba concluded with four players sharing the lead, while Mexican golfer María Fassi emerged as the top performer among her compatriots. The tournament, held at the El Camaleón course, saw a challenging start for many competitors, including notable struggles from Gaby López and Isabella Fierro.
Four-Way Tie at the Top
American Brianna Do, Japan’s Chisato Iwai, South Korea’s Jenny Shin, and the Philippines’ Bianca Pagdangana each carded 68 strokes (-4) to finish the first round in a tie for first place. The El Camaleón course proved demanding for the LPGA Tour competitors, with only these four players managing to break par convincingly.
Fassi Leads Mexican Contingent
María Fassi, a former LPGA Tour player now competing on the Epson Tour, posted a 75 (+3) to secure a tie for 63rd place. While her performance fell short of expectations, her position keeps her in contention to make the cut after Friday’s round.
Fellow Mexicans Fernanda Lira and María Balcázar finished one stroke behind Fassi at 76 (+4), tying for 79th place. Andrea Ostos struggled further, ending the day with a 78 (+6).
Disappointing Day for López and Fierro
Gaby López, Mexico’s sole full-time LPGA Tour member and the world’s 58th-ranked golfer, endured her worst round of the 2025 season, shooting a 79 (+7). The 31-year-old from Mexico City recorded eight bogeys and just one birdie, leaving her in danger of missing the cut.
“It was a very tough round for me—nothing went right. But I have to keep my head up,” López said afterward.
Isabella Fierro, a 23-year-old amateur who received a sponsor exemption, fared even worse, finishing with an 80 (+8). Her round included one birdie, five bogeys, and two double bogeys.
Clarisa Temelo, the 2024 WALA tournament champion, also struggled, matching López’s 79 (+7) in only her second LPGA Tour appearance. At the bottom of the leaderboard, Carolina Rotzinger finished a staggering 19 strokes over par.
The tournament continues Friday, with players battling to secure their spots for the weekend rounds.
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