Lilia Vu didn't need a perfect lie to find her rhythm Thursday at the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G. She just needed to prove to herself that she could handle the imperfections of Maketewah Country Club.

The American standout carded a 3-under-par 67 in the opening round, placing her in a tie for fourth heading into Friday's second round. While her scorecard featured four birdies and a lone bogey, the numbers only tell half the story of a day defined by a late-round surge in confidence.

The two-time major champion’s birdie on the 17th hole shifted the momentum and despite Maketewah's narrow fairways, it was a shot from the rough that finally gave her the confidence to attack the course.

"I think I just started to trust my game a little better," Vu said. "I know this course is tough. It's hard to hit the fairway. Sometimes you just need a little bit of luck to get there."

That luck, or perhaps high-level recovery skill, manifested on 17, which Vu describes as one of the most difficult driving holes on the course. After her drive landed just a foot into the rough, she stuck an approach shot within three feet of the pin.

"Figured, okay, I can birdie from the rough if I need to," Vu said. "I think that kind of propelled me and gave me some confidence moving into the other nine."

Maketewah has proven to be a good addition to the tour schedule this year. Players have described the layout as a mix of quirky, hilly, and flat sections that require a high degree of shot-making. For Vu, the mental grind of the course is a welcome challenge rather than a frustration.

Vu characterized the firm fairways and thick rough to Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club and noted that even a well-struck ball can occasionally tumble into trouble, making the tournament as much about emotional composure as it is about technical execution.

"I kind of like it," Vu said. "It's so tough to the point that you kind of have to think about the shot in front of you, and that's the style of golf I love the most. There is wind here. The fairways can be firm. The rough is thick. Just all different types of shots that you can get, and it's actually kind of fun to navigate around that."

With the wind expected to remain a factor throughout the weekend, Vu's ability to "trust the bounce" may be the deciding factor as she chases the lead in Cincinnati.

Lilia Vu Starts Strong in Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G

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