Singapore: South Koreans Park Hyun-Hyung and Jeong Yun-Ji fired matching seven-under-par 65s to share the first-round lead of the inaugural Hana Financial Group Singapore Women's Open on Friday.
The pair were one stroke ahead of compatriots Park Ji-Young and Ahn Sun-Ju after posting blemish-free rounds at the Tanah Merah Country Club's Tampines Course.
Seeking her first KLPGA Tour title in 19 months and fourth overall this week, Park began the day from the 10th tee brilliantly with three birdies before adding four more to put herself in early contention for the season-opening event.
Jeong, who teed off in the afternoon, joined Park at the top of the leaderboard following an equally impressive seven-birdie card.
Jeong will be eager to get the 2023 season off to the best possible start as she looks to build on her solid performance last season where she claimed a breakthrough victory at the 10th E1 Charity Open in May.
Lee So-Mi, who won twice in her last three starts, was tied for fifth on 67 along with Lim Hee-Jeong, Song Ga-Eun and Bong Seung-Hui.
Singapore hopeful Koh Sock Hwee proved that the local players are no pushovers as she opened with a solid 68 to share the ninth spot with eight others including Hong Kong's Tiffany Chan, who fired her career first hole-in-one at the par-three 16th.
World No.3 Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand, the highest-ranked player in the 102-woman field, carded a 69 to sit in a congested 11-way tie for 18th.
The limelight clearly belonged to Park as she was quick to adapt to the unfamiliar playing conditions and turned them in her favour.
"The afternoon groups are still playing but it's a great feeling to sit atop the leaderboard at the point when I finished," said Park shortly after completing her round.
"The grass and other course conditions here are way more different than in Korea, so I knew I would have to make necessary adjustments if I were to get a good result in this week's tournament," she added.