Kiara Romero is making a big splash in her LPGA Tour professional debut.
The former top-ranked amateur in the world just turned pro and shot 64-67 in the first two rounds of the CPKC Women’s Open at Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Edmonton, Alberta, and at nine under she held a share of second place as the afternoon wave continued to play.
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“I’m just really grateful to be out here, and I feel like I just came out here with the mindset to just go out and have fun and just enjoy it,” Romero said. “Just remember that it’s just golf at the end of the day.”
The 20-year-old Romero was sharp off the tee and gave herself plenty of birdie opportunities. She had two bogeys and five birdies on Friday after a clean scorecard in shooting six under on Thursday. Romero had 29 putts on Friday and she hit nine of 14 fairways and 14 of 18 greens in regulation.
“I feel like this course really fits my eye, so when I’m out there, I’m playing pretty aggressively with my iron shots and just trying to make as many birdies as possible,” Romero said.
Earlier this month, Romero qualified for the LPGA’s Elite Amateur Pathway program (LEAP) by earning the final point of 20 to get her LPGA Tour card. Romero had one year of eligibility remaining at the University of Oregon and still plans to go back to earn her degree in the future. She earned the final LEAP point by winning the McCormack Medal, awarded by the USGA and R&A to the best amateur female golfer, for a second straight year. She’s the second golfer to go straight from college to the LPGA Tour, following Lottie Woad.
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If the San Jose native wins, she’d follow in the footsteps of Woad, who won the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open last year after a fantastic career at Florida State.
In an interview with Golf Digest last week, Romero said: “It’s always been my dream ever since I was a little girl to play on the LPGA Tour. I feel like it’s not hitting me yet, that I have my tour card available right now, and I got it at 20 years old. When I was little, it’s something I always dreamed of and kind of to realize it’s happening now, I have to take a step back and realize how grateful I am to be in this position.”
Romero has her brother Kyreece, a former Oregon golfer, on her bag. Her sister Kaleiya, who played at Oregon, will be out there soon too. Kaleiya is about to earn her LPGA card through the Epson Tour’s Race for the Card. She’s second in the standings (she won the Island Resort Championship) with just five events left.
When asked about her first guaranteed check on Sunday, Romero said: “It’ll be nice, but honestly that’s not the reason I play golf, so I don’t really pay attention to any of that.”
If Romero is victorious, she’ll certainly pay attention to the $412,500 winner’s check. Either way, she’s off to a strong start.
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