WONJU, South Korea: World number two Atthaya Thitikul shot a tournament-record nine-under-par 63 to grab the first-round lead at the BMW Ladies Championship in South Korea on Thursday.
The 19-year-old Thai star was a stroke ahead of local amateur Kim Min-sol in the LPGA event in Wonju.
It was a disastrous day for world number one and defending champion Ko Jin-young, who shot an eight-over 80 on her return from a wrist injury.
Atthaya, who has already won twice in her first season on the LPGA Tour, said: “I just want go out and play, and just focus on what I have to do.
“What I have been thinking about is yardage and how I am going to hit shots,” she said, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency.
Three players share third place after carding 66s — Andrea Lee of the United States and the South Korean duo of Hong Yae-eun and Kim A-lim.
New Zealand’s Lydia Ko, a former world No.1, was in a tie for sixth, five shots off the lead.
Thai veteran Pornanong Phatlum, who has been having one of her best seasons in years, is in a tie for ninth place at 3 under.
Top-ranked Ko Jin-young was philosophical after finishing the day nearly bottom of the pile.
“Golf can be like this. Things don’t always go the way I want them to,” she said, according to Yonhap.
“I did the best I could. … I will try to stay positive to get ready for the remaining rounds.”
