ELMHURST, Ill. –Three players finished atop the leaderboard Wednesday as Raya Nakao, of Kaneohe, Hawaii; Rachel Lee, of Australia; and Kylee Choi, of Murrieta, California, all finished 6-under par to share medalist honors at the 126th Women’s Western Amateur at River Forest Country Club.

Lee, No. 167 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), tied the low round of stroke play with a 6-under 66 to climb into a share of the lead after opening with an even-par 72. The 18-year-old’s second round featured seven birdies and just one bogey.

"Definitely was a good day out there and I gave myself a lot of chances," Lee said. "This course is actually pretty similar back where I'm from, because of the sand and the grass."

After 36 holes of stroke-play qualifying, the championship format will switch to match play Thursday.

"Anything can happen in match play," Lee said. "I just try to go out, play golf and beat that person because you never know. It could be anyone's game."

Nakao, an Oregon State senior ranked No. 189, has made just one bogey over 36 holes. After opening with a 4-under 68 on Tuesday, Nakao posted a bogey-free 2-under 70 on Wednesday.

When asked what stood out most during her two rounds, Nakao was quick with her answer.

"My putting,” she said. “I had some lengthy par putts out there, but seeing those drop really gave me the confidence. When the putter is on, the round is bound to turn out well."

Playing with plenty of cushion from the 36-hole cut, the 20-year-old Nakao said she tried to keep herself focused on every shot.

"For me, I was just really focused on what I was doing and taking it shot by shot, hole by hole, not trying to get ahead of myself,” she said. “But regardless of what you shoot, as long as you make the cut, you get into match play. I was still aiming to do as best as possible."

Choi, a Pepperdine sophomore ranked No. 72, followed an opening-round 70 with a bogey-free 4-under par 68 on Wednesday. Choi reached the quarterfinals of the Women's Western Amateur in 2025.

"My game is very solid right now – my driver, my irons – and I hit 17 greens today," the 19-year-old said. "My putting has been very good, with no three-putts all week, which is really great."

Choi is eager for match play to begin on Thursday.

"I'm really looking forward to match play,” she said. “It's one of my favorite things about golf. Being able to play out here and against other amazing golfers is something I really look forward to."

Just one stroke behind the trio of co-medalists, Grace Lee (Gonzaga), of Bellevue, Washington, and Jaclyn LaHa (Virginia), of Pleasanton, California, finished tied for fourth at 5-under par. Mia Clausen, of Carlsbad, California, and first-round leader Pimchompoo "Pinky" Chaisilprungruang (UNC Charlotte), of Thailand, are tied for sixth at four under.

Alabama-commit Alli Wiertel, of Oswego, Illinois, finished in a seven-way tie for 19th at 1-under par. The 17-year-old earned the Marion Miley Bracelet, awarded each year to the player with the lowest combined stroke-play score across the Women’s Western Junior and Women’s Western Amateur.

For full stroke play results, click here.

The 32-player cut came at even par, with nine players competing in a playoff for the final seven spots. Match play will begin with Round of 32 matches on Thursday morning, with the Round of 16 to follow in the afternoon.

The 2026 championship is being contested at River Forest for the first time since 2017. The medalist that year was Allisen Corpuz, who went on to win the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open. Corpuz posted a score of 2-under par 142 when she earned medalist honors.

Held without interruption since 1901, the Women’s Western Amateur is among the oldest and most prestigious annual championships in women’s amateur golf. The tournament is conducted jointly by the Women’s Western Golf Association and the Western Golf Association.

The championship features the top amateur and collegiate players from across the globe. The winner at River Forest this week will join a list of past champions that includes legendary stars Patty Berg, Louise Suggs and Nancy Lopez as well as modern standouts like Cristie Kerr, Brittany Lang, Stacy Lewis and Ariya Jutanugarn.

Attendance and parking for the Women’s Western Amateur are free.