PATTAYA: The Honda LPGA Thailand 2022 Championship got off to a blistering start with three players tied for the lead on 63 at Siam Country Club yesterday.
Australian Su Oh, Nasa Hataoka of Japan and German Esther Henseleit all shot nine-under-par rounds, which gave them a one-stroke cushion over China's Lin Xiyu, on an opening day when the big names generally struggled.
Oh, the 25-year-old South Korea-born Australian, was bogey-free in her 63 which had five birdies on the back nine and four on the front.
"That's a great way to start a tournament -- it was really nice. I don't think I've ever shot nine under before. But I'm very happy with how I played."
Hataoka, a five-time LPGA Tour winner, said she too enjoyed her opening round and could not have asked for anything better.
"I hit 14 fairways and 18 greens, so that's a solid round," she said. "I have not shot that good a round -- not so much -- only a couple of times. I really focused on one shot at a time, so my course management was good. I believe that's the reason behind today's performance."
Henseleit, the 23-year-old from Hamburg, has two wins on the Ladies European Tour.
"I just didn't make any big mistakes I think. My irons were good. On my first nine I had many tap-in birdies – on the back nine I holed two longer putts. It was just stress-free golf and it was definitely nice to get a few birdies."
Canada's world No.1 Brooke Henderson was tied with Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Alison Lee, Lindsey Weaver-Wright, Celine Boutier and Jennifer Kupcho on seven-under 65 for fifth place.
Three-time Honda LPGA Thailand winner Amy Yang, world No.5 Danielle Kang, Lee6 Jeong-Eun, Carlota Ciganda, Liu Yu and Lizette Salas were joint 11th place, one stroke back on six under.
Min Lee, Hinako Shibuno, Lucy Li, Perrine Delacour, A Lim Kim and Stacy Lewis were a shot further adrift on five-under 67.
Pajaree Anannarukarn was the best Thai performer on the first day after she shot a 68 to stay five shots off the lead at joint 23rd. Amateur Rina Tatematsu was a further stroke back at tied 34th.
Defending champion Ariya Jutanugarn battled to a two-over 74, struggling first with direction off the tee-box and then her short game. But the former world No.1 can still make a comeback if she can pull her game together in time.
The 15th edition of the Honda LPGA Thailand carries prize money of US$1.6 million (approx 53 million baht), of which the winner will receive $240,000 (7.9 million baht).