When the LPGA's best arrived at Maketewah Country Club for the Kroger Queen City Championship, they knew they were in for something different. And after just one round, the scoreboard confirmed it: this wasn't going to be a typical birdie parade.

For two years, the tournament was held at TPC River's Bend in Maineville, where warm weather and forgiving conditions led to scoring fireworks. Last September, 92 players finished the first round under par, and seven players went 6-under or better. One golfer even tied the tournament record with a 9-under round.

Fast forward to this year's opening day at historic Maketewah—a classic Donald Ross design known for its prestige and teeth—and the numbers tell a completely different story. Only 27 players broke par on Thursday. Nobody went lower than 4-under, and three golfers shared the clubhouse lead at that mark.

"It's a super hard golf course," said first-round co-leader Chella Choi after posting a 66.

That wasn't just one player's opinion. It was the consensus across the leaderboard after a brisk, windy day that turned the championship into a survival test. Thick rough, firm fairways, and devilish pin placements on Maketewah's undulating poa annua greens made every shot a challenge.

"It's hard to hit the fairway," said Lilia Vu, who opened with a 67. "Sometimes, you just need a little bit of luck out there."

The front nine and back nine at Maketewah feel like two completely different courses, according to Lydia Ko, a past champion of this event. The unique topography forces players to navigate blind angles, sidehill lies, and dramatic elevation changes—elements that weren't factors at the previous venue.

For fans and players alike, this year's Kroger Queen City Championship has become a test of patience, precision, and resilience. And for those who love to see the game's best players truly challenged, Maketewah is delivering exactly that.