Atlantic Beach Classic presented by Access Golf Round 1

Rookie Lauren Clark surged to the top of the leaderboard during the opening round of the 2026 Atlantic Beach Classic, carding a brilliant 6-under 65 to take a two-shot lead. Clark’s round was a masterclass in distance control; she took advantage of all four par-5s and navigated the tricky coastal breezes that began to buffet the course mid-afternoon.

Her bogey-free performance stood out on a day when the firm, fast conditions caused many veterans to struggle with their approach shots. Following closely in the clubhouse is Natasha Oon, making a successful return to professional competition with a steady 4-under 67.

Oon’s tactical discipline on the back nine, which she described as "tight and unforgiving," kept her bogey-free despite the rising wind. A large group sits in a tie for third at 3-under, including Cynthia Lu, Maddie Szeryk-DiBello, and Annabelle Pancake-Webb.

Notably, the first round was suspended due to darkness late in the evening, leaving several players, including Savannah Grewal, to complete their opening 18 holes early on Friday morning.