The leaderboard was stacked with red numbers and ties after the first round of the 11th annual Dream First Bank Charity Classic. The field of 144 athletes took advantage of Buffalo Dunes Golf Course in round one despite the windy conditions in the morning wave.

Napat Lertsadwattana was the first leader in the clubhouse of the day, posting a 6-under 66. Lertsadwattana rushed her warm-up routine this morning and started off with a bogey on her first hole of the day. However, the Thai native refocused and settled into her round rather quickly, sinking four birdies on her opening nine.

“In the morning, I actually started with a bogey. In the morning, we rushed through warming up, and it was a little bit cold. So I started with the bogey, and after that, I think my game was pretty good. I hit the ball well, and I hit my approach shots well, and I putted well,” commented Lertsadwattana.

The University of Georgia alumna continued her momentum into her second nine, finding three birdies and posting a 6-under 66 to find herself at the top of the leaderboard after round one of the Dream First Bank Charity Classic. Lertsadwattana, currently ranked 27th in the Race for the Card standings, is eager to secure a top finish this week as every tournament becomes more pivotal for players potentially clinching their LPGA Tour cards for the 2026 season.

“It's going to help me really well to catch up with my Race for the Card ranking, which everyone is intending to finish well each week, so that's my intention as well,” expressed Lertsadwattana.

Hailey Jones and Erika Hara followed closely behind Lertsadwattana, both carding 5-under rounds of 67 to finish off the morning wave. Jones made five birdies and was bogey-free, an exciting feat in her second appearance on the Epson Tour.

Epson Tour rookie Erika Hara, coming off a win at the Wildhorse Ladies Golf Classic, is showing her dominance at no better time than in the final stretch of the 2025 season. Hara made an eagle and three birdies on her closing nine to post a 5-under 31. The Japanese native is looking forward to continuing a weekend of solid golf in hopes of moving up in the Race for the Card rankings, as the 2025 Epson Tour Player of the Year award is still up for grabs.

Valery Plata and Yana Wilson had a number to chase by the time they teed off in the afternoon. Plata started off strong with a birdie on her opening hole. The Colombian continued her streak with four more birdies on the day to sign for a 5-under 67 and sit in a tie for second place. Wilson started off slow before making back-to-back birdies on holes seven and eight, as well as holes 11 and 12. The Las Vegas native made a “clutch” birdie on the 18th hole to round out a 5-under 67.

Carley Cox Pruette shot a 3-under 69 in her opening round at the Dream First Bank Charity Classic. Pruette is currently ranked No. 95 in the Race for the Card leaderboard and is looking for a top finish this week to comfortably secure her position inside the top-125 in the season-long points list. With a top finish this week, the North Carolina native can guarantee an exemption into the Qualifying Stage of LPGA Qualifying-Series, which betters her chances of earning a place on the LPGA Tour.

Jones, Hara, Plata, and Wilson share second place after the opening 18 holes, one shot back of Lertsadwattana, who will look to hold her lead on Saturday. From there, the margin narrows, with Riely Smyth turning in a round of 68 to sit one shot off second place heading into round two. The second round will begin on Saturday at 7:45 a.m. local time. Follow along with live scoring here.

Napat Lertsadwattana Sits in Solo First after Round One of the Dream First Bank Charity Classic

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