Former Razorback in top 3 after 2nd round of NW Arkansas Championship

ROGERS, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Razorback alumna Gaby Lopez stayed on track for her fourth career LPGA Tour title at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G, despite a triple bogey during Saturday’s round.

Lopez opened the week with a 5-under 66 on Friday, Sept. 27, carding three bogeys and eight birdies in the first round at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers. It was her lowest round on Tour since shooting a 65 at the Dana Open in July.

She is currently tied for third with Japan’s Nasa Hataoka and Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol and Pajaree Anannarukarn.

Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G Forecast

The 66 is one of just three rounds Lopez has recorded at that level during the 2024 LPGA season.

Representing Mexico, Lopez entered Saturday needing a solid performance to remain in contention for Sunday’s final at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship.

Starting on the back nine, she birdied the par-4 10th and 12th holes to move to 7-under, but a triple bogey on the par-5 14th set her back to 4-under.

“I just hit a bad tee shot, and when I tried to hit out of the rocks, it clipped the tree and went into the water,” Lopez said during a press conference. “It was really unlucky because it could have gone either way—it either goes in or stays out of the water. I’ll make sure I hit the driver tomorrow.”

Lopez quickly bounced back with birdies on the par-3 15th and par-5 18th, getting back to 6-under at the turn. She then added three more birdies on the front nine before a bogey on the 9th left her with a 4-under 67, placing her in the top five.

Former volunteer returns to Walmart NW Arkansas Championship as pro golfer

“After that triple bogey, just looking at all the people around me… it didn’t matter if I shot 10 or made a birdie, they were still right there, cheering me on,” Lopez said.

This marks her 19th start of the season, with two top-10 finishes and three other top-15 results, including a tie for 14th at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

With one round left, the 30-year-old remains in strong contention for the title.

Other Hogs in the field 🐗

Maria Fassi – T15

University of Arkansas alumna

Mexico

Maria Jose Marin – T15

Current player at the University of Arkansas, sophomore

Colombia

Stacy Lewis – T54

University of Arkansas alumna

Two-time Walmart NW Arkansas Champion

United States

Stacy Lewis returns 17 years after first NW Arkansas Championship win

Top 5 going into Round 3

See live results from the tournament here.

RankPlayerCountryTotal strokes1Ashleigh BuhaiSouth Africa1312Dottie ArdinaPhillipines132T3Arpichaya YubolThailand133T3Nasa HataokaJapan 133T3Pajaree AnannarukarnThailand133T3Gaby LopezMexico133