The second stop of the 2026 Epson Tour season is officially underway at the IOA Golf Classic. The field of 120 athletes dealt with cooler temperatures, gusty winds, and small greens at Alaqua Country Club on Friday morning.

Gianna Clemente is a 17-year-old rookie who everyone has been keeping an eye on over the past few years as she has come up the ranks, and today was like no other. Clemente fired a 6-under bogey-free round of 65 to start off her second event of the season. The Florida native rolled in four birdies on her back nine to sign for a 4-under 32, ending the day sitting in a tie for the lead.

“I think just kind of firing on all cylinders today, commented Clemente, “I feel like I've figured out my putting a little bit since last week, and also hit some really good wedges today. So I was able to capitalize on making some short putts too.”

Another player taking advantage of the quiet winds in the afternoon wave was Australian Jennifer Elliott. The 25-year-old opened with a 3-under 33 on her opening nine. Elliott continued racking up the birdies, sinking putts on hole two, followed by three consecutively on Nos. 5-7.

“I just had fun out there today. I had a good game plan going into today, said Elliott, “everything just kind of worked out. It was really good. I could see my putting lines really well, and I was hitting them really well.”

Galdiano is a 27-year-old who seemed to have mastered her warm-up routine, opening with four consecutive birdies, sitting at 4-under through her first five holes, and rounding the turn with a 31. The LPGA and Epson Tour veteran continued her momentum with birdies on two of the three par-5’s on the back side, finding herself in a tie for third heading into moving day.

Yue Ren was the first leader in the clubhouse of the day. The 25-year-old fired a 5-under 66 to claim the early lead.

Reflecting on her positive putting after her first round, she added with a mix of excitement and humility: "My putting today was really good. I made everything three yards and in. I think my Irons were really good, but sometimes not really. My chipping and putting were pretty good today, and I just made every putt."

Ren opened her day on the back side with a bogey on the par-4, 10th. However, she was soon right back under par after draining back-to-back birdies on holes 12 and 13. The People’s Republic of China native started her final nine holes with a bang, finding four consecutive under-par holes in a row. The Epson Tour veteran continued her round with poise, capping off with a birdie on hole No. 9, showcasing her confidence on the greens.

“Hole No. 3, par 5, I hit a really good approach shot, but it spun off the green to like four yards. said Ren, “I putted off the green and made that for birdie.”

Dottie Ardina followed closely behind Ren, firing a bogey-free round one. Ardina posted four birdies, highlighted by three on her back nine of the day, to find herself sitting in a tie for fifth with Jiwon Jeon, Elizabeth Moon, Becca Huffer, and Jeongeun Lee6.

The Philippine native is finding her spark at a familiar venue, having lost in the 2023 playoff against Jenny Coleman and Sophie Housmann, with Coleman taking the victory. Ardina looks forward to continuing a weekend of solid golf in hopes of securing her second professional win.

The pack tightens quickly, with three more athletes at 3-under, sitting in a tie for tenth, setting up an intense battle heading into day two.

Clemente and Elliott will each look to take the solo lead on Saturday when round two begins at 8:00 a.m. local time. The IOA Golf Classic continues to deliver drama and opportunity for these rising stars chasing LPGA dreams. Follow along with live scoring here.

Rookie Gianna Clemente and Australian Jennifer Elliott Tie the Lead of Epson Tour IOA Golf Classic after Round One

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