Lydia Ko launched her first season as an LPGA Tour member in style Thursday, grabbing a share of the first-round lead at the Bahamas LPGA Classic.
Lydia Ko follows her tee shot on the fourth hole during round one of the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic at the Ocean Club course on January 23, 2014 in Paradise Island, Bahamas
The 16-year-old South Korean-born New Zealander had six birdies and one bogey in a five-under par 68 that put her tied atop the leaderboard with South Korean Meena Lee in the $1.3 million season-opening event.
Ko birdied two of her final three holes, including a four-foot birdie at 18 after she couldn't get her long eagle chance to drop.
Ko said it wasn't hard to stay patient because she knew she was playing well.
"I thought I was playing much better than my scores," she said. "I gave myself opportunities and I hit my putts on the line that I wanted to hit them, and sometimes it would just dive off to the left or right. So I had a couple of close ones."
Lee's round included an eagle two at the par-four 13th hole, along with four birdies on the Ocean Club course.
She said she was playing with renewed confidence after some hard off-season work.
"That's why I feel very good and happy to be playing the first tournament," she said.
The leading duo was one stroke in front of a group of 10 players that included American Stacy Lewis, Thailand's P.K. Kongkraphan, Taiwan's Candie Kung and South Koreans Park Hee-Young and Mirim Lee.
Lewis, ranked third in the world, had three birdies on the front nine and moved as low as five-under before a bogey at 14.
"I thought I'd be a little bit more rusty than I was," Lewis said. "But I got off to a good start and really just hit the ball really solid."
Lewis and Ko played together on Thursday, and Lewis was impressed by the youngster.
"I think she's really good," Lewis said. "Gosh, when she gets some confidence and really figures that out for the rest of the tour."
Ko turned professional last year after a stellar amateur career during which she won four professional tournaments.
She won her first title as a pro in Taiwan in December, but is making her first start this week as a member of the LPGA Tour.
Her precocious achievements persuaded LPGA Tour commissioner Michael Whan to waive the tour's usual requirement that a player be 18 years old to qualify for membership.
Ko said she expected to be more nervous in her first round as an LPGA rookie.
"I just felt really relaxed and kind of just played my game one shot at a time," she said.
Since turning pro, Ko has signed an equipment deal with Callaway, changed her swing coach and hired a new caddie .
"Over the last month hearing the word change, it could pretty much be my middle name," Ko said.
"It's good that I kind of got off into a good start and it will definitely help with the rest of the season. I guess the change is quite big, but I wanted a challenge."