Kiara Romero contends in her first start as an LPGA professional

By Staff Writer

August 23, 2026

1 min read

a view of a golf course with mountains in the background

Key takeaways

Kiara Romero is 9 under through 36 holes at the CPKC Women's Open, her first LPGA start as a professional.
She opened 64-67 at Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Alberta, with 11 birdies across two rounds.
Romero is the second graduate of the LPGA's LEAP program, after two-time LPGA winner Lottie Woad.

Kiara Romero turned professional and skipped the part where a rookie takes a season to find her feet. In her first LPGA start since giving up her amateur status, she followed a Thursday 64 with a 67 on Friday to reach 9 under at the CPKC Women's Open in Alberta, briefly sharing the lead before Japan's Miyu Yamashita moved in front.

How did Romero reach the LPGA?

The McCormack Medal, given to the world's top-ranked amateur, carried the 20 points she needed to complete the LPGA's LEAP pathway. That made her only the second player to graduate through it, after Lottie Woad. Romero will forgo her senior season at Oregon.

Her brother Kyreece is on the bag full time, finishing his own college studies online between weeks.

it's just golf at the end of the day

Romero made six birdies on Thursday and played bogey-free until her ninth hole of the second round. Starting from the 10th on Friday, she dropped another shot at the sixth but picked up five birdies. Soo Bin Yoo of Korea and Yuri Yoshida of Japan were level with her before Yamashita's move.

What is she chasing this weekend?

Woad was the last LPGA player to win her first event after turning professional. Romero has put herself in range of matching it in her own debut, which would be the second time in short order that a LEAP graduate has won immediately.