Pattaya: Ariya Jutanugarn got off to an ideal start in her bid to become the first local champion of the Honda LPGA Thailand yesterday.
The world No.2 shot a bogey-free six-under-par 66 to take a share of first round lead with Amy Yang of South Korea in the country's premier women's golf event at Siam Country Club.
Fresh from her joint third place finish at the Women's Australian Open on Sunday, the 21-year-old Thai took advantage of the calm conditions in the afternoon to score four birdies on the front nine (Nos.4, 5, 7 and 8) before adding two more on her way back (Nos.11 and 17).
It also sets the Thai up for redemption on the course where she suffered a heartbreaking defeat in 2013 after losing her cool in the final round with three bogeys that forced her into second place.
Playing in a group ahead of Ariya, 2015 winner Yang finished with back-to-back birdies to take a one-shot clubhouse lead before the Thai star matched her with a birdie at the par-four 17th.
With a chance to take an outright lead at the par-five closing hole, Ariya only managed a par but the Thai was obviously delighted with her overall performance.
Defending champion Lexi Thompson.
"I feel really good with my iron today," Ariya said. "Especially tee shot is pretty good. I just try to give myself a chance to make birdie."
Confidence shouldn't be a problem for Ariya following a brilliant 2016 season during which she picked up five victories including the Women's British Open, and also took the Player of the Year award, Race to CME Globe and the money title.
Having her mother cheering her on and with sister Moriya also competing this week, Ariya said the support from the crowd made it extra special.
"It feels great. I feel grateful to be here. All the fans, they try to support all the Thai golfers here," said Ariya.
Yang also had many reasons to be happy about her return to the Thai resort town where she won the title a couple of years ago.
"It's nice to be back again. I love coming to Thailand to play," said Yang. "I was hitting it pretty good out there.
"The last couple of holes I was hitting it so solid. I was aiming at the pin and it was going right at the pin, you know," added the Korean whose round included seven birdies and a bogey.
World No.1 Lydia Ko. Pattanapong Hirunard
A triple birdie finish saw China's Feng Shanshan climb to joint third place alongside Ryann O'Toole of the US, South Korea's Kim Sei-Young and Australia's Minjee Lee on five-under 67.
American defending champion Lexi Thompson, meanwhile, began her defence with a four-under 68 for tied seventh, while world No.1 Lydia Ko of New Zealand opened with a two-under 70, collecting five birdies against three bogeys, for joint 22nd.
Ariya's sister Moriya was the second best Thai after carding a three-under 69 to tie for 11th, while another local hope Pornanong Phatlum, who shot a 71, was in a group tied for 27th that included Jang Ha-Na, winner of the Australian Open in Adelaide.
Ariya will tee off with Yang and Kim Sei-Yong, starting at 11.50am today, while Ko, Chun In-Gee and Lee Mi-Rim will start at 10.14am. Thompson will tee off with Karine Icher and Azahara Munoz at 11.14am.
CHARITY NIGHT
The golfers took part in the Charity Night, hosted by the tournament organisers, on Wednesday night and some of their personal items were auctioned off to raise money for Chaipattana Foundation and other charity activities.
Among notable items included a golf bag with autographs from the golfers that raised 250,000 baht, a putter belonging to Ariya fetched 120,000 baht and Lydia Ko's Olympic Games shirt and flag went for 90,000 baht.
Putters of 2013 champion Park In-Bee and Lexi Thompson brought in 80,000 and 65,000 baht respectively.
PRAYAD LEADS THE WAY
Prayad Marksaeng shot a bogey-free nine-under 63 to take the first round lead at the Singha E-San Open at the par-72 Singha Park Khonkaen Golf Club in Khon Kaen yesterday.
The 51-year-old Hua Hin native was two shots ahead of Namchok Tantipokhakul and Gunn Charoenkul.
A further stroke back were Udorn Duangdecha, Nirun Sae-Ueng and Nattawat Suvajanakorn.
The three-million-baht tournament is the opening event of the 2017 All Thailand Golf Tour.