Story, photo of Kelly Xu courtesy of Epson Tour
HARRIS---With the first two weeks of the Pure Michigan Cup complete, athletes teed up this morning and afternoon in the first round of the Island Resort Championship presented by Delta County Chamber. As the third full field event of the season was underway, a plethora of athletes took advantage of the calmer winds resulting in a party at the top of the leaderboard, with a three-way tie for first place through round one.
Megan Schofill was the first leader in the clubhouse, after firing an 8-under, 64, highlighted by a dramatic opening stretch. The 2026 Epson Tour Champion started her round with back-to-back birdies on holes 10 and 11. Once Schofill approached No. 12 tee box, she wasn’t expecting to be picking her ball out of the hole so quickly, after making an ace from 154 yards with her 7-iron. This was Schofill’s sixth hole-in-one in her lifetime, and it helped jumpstart the rest of her round.
“Honestly played really solid golf, expressed Schofill. “I felt like last week too, I played solid golf, just didn't score. So, it was kind of nice today to put together a solid round. I felt I didn't do that much different than last week. Just made some putts and kind of had it going.”
After the morning groups finished, Kelly Xu and Liqi Zeng made their way to the top of the leaderboard through the afternoon wave.
Xu a recent Stanford University alumna, and LPGA Collegiate Advancement Pathway graduate, put together a bogey-free round to find herself in a tie for the lead in just her second professional start on the Epson Tour.
Xu’s round was highlighted by four consecutive birdies on holes eight through 11, ultimately signing for an even 4-under on each side, to card the second 64 of the day.
“For sure, I think the last couple of weeks have definitely been kind of whirlwind, finishing school, being post-grad, and sitting with that, said Xu. “Then last week being my first event, I think just getting used to it and just learning, staying process-oriented and seeing what works. It's huge to be able to just come straight out of playing golf and just keep playing golf and just think that that's what I'm doing.”
Zeng showed her talent after carding a round of 8-under, 64. Zeng’s bogey-free round puts her in the group of athletes ahead of the rest of the pack. The Republic of China native’s round was highlighted by a 7-under, 29 on her back nine.
Epson Tour rookie, Kaleiya Romero’s, iron play was dialed this afternoon and her scorecard explains it. After losing in a sudden death playoff last week against Lauren Olivares, the rookie has come to Island Resort for redemption. The Pepperdine University alumna holed out for eagle from 140-yards on the par-4, 5th hole, to round the turn 3-under.
Heading into her back nine, Romero dropped the second hole-in-one of the day on the 12th hole, with her 8-iron from 154 yards. Heading into round two, Romero sits in a tie for fourth with Canadian Megan Osland.
Make sure to stay tuned for who will hold the lead after day two of the 2026 Island Resort Championship presented by Delta County Chamber and possibly make a jump in the 2026 Pure Michigan Cup standings.
Round two will begin at 7:30 a.m. local time. The Island Resort Championship continues to deliver drama and opportunity for these rising stars chasing LPGA dreams. Follow along with live scoring
