Rookie Akie Iwai fires 8-under 64 alongside her sister to grab the first-round lead in Hawaii.

Akie Iwai knew exactly what she had Wednesday morning at Hoakalei Country Club—calm air, soft greens, and her twin sister Chisato standing in the same fairway. The 23-year-old Japanese rookie torched the course for an 8-under 64, grabbing the first-round lead at the Lotte Championship while playing what might be the most fun pairing in professional golf. “It was fun,” Akie said afterward. “I’m looking forward to tomorrow, too.” Simple words, but they carry weight when you’re sitting atop a leaderboard with players like Nelly Korda chasing you.

Rookie Sisters Doing Rookie Things

Here’s the story nobody saw coming this year: both Iwai twins won on tour as rookies in 2025. Chisato broke through first at Mayakoba in May, then Akie answered at the Portland Classic in August. Now they’re paired together in Hawaii, and while Chisato posted a respectable 70, her sister went nuclear. Akie birdied three of her first four holes, then added six more birdies over a nine-hole stretch before a bogey on the par-3 ninth. That’s the kind of round that doesn’t happen without perfect rhythm and zero distractions—which is probably easier when your playing partner shares your DNA.

Korda’s Uphill Climb

While Iwai was carving up the front nine, Nelly Korda was grinding through an “up-and-down” round that ended with a 3-under 69. “Definitely have a long way to go to get in contention,” Korda said, which is refreshingly honest for someone who dominated last season with seven wins. She hasn’t won this year, lost her No. 1 ranking to Jeeno Thitikul, and now finds herself five shots behind a rookie who’s playing with house money. Charley Hull matched Korda’s 69, fresh off her clutch win three weeks ago when Thitikul four-putted away the Kroger Queen City Championship. The plot thickens.

The Calm Before the Wind

Iwai’s timing couldn’t have been better. Morning waves got the best of Hoakalei’s conditions before the Hawaiian winds kicked up in the afternoon. That’s golf in paradise—you either catch the calm or you fight the breeze. The leaders know it, the chasers know it, and everyone’s praying their Thursday tee time falls on the right side of noon. For now, Akie owns the lead, and she’s got the swagger of someone who’s already won this season.

What’s Next

After Hawaii, the LPGA heads to Asia for five straight weeks—Shanghai, South Korea, Malaysia, and Japan. That’s a grind. But before anyone starts packing bags, there’s still three rounds to settle in Ewa Beach. Can Iwai hold the lead? Can Korda find her form? And most importantly, can we get these twin sisters paired together again? Because if Wednesday was any indication, that’s must-watch golf.