LPGA rookie So Mi Lee of South Korea accumulated eight birdies to shoot a 6-under 66, taking the first-round lead at the Mizuho Americas Open on Thursday in Jersey City, N.J.
Lee holds a two-shot lead over four players tied at 4-under 68, including Australian rookie Gabriela Ruffels.
Initially the second alternate in the field, Lee did not expect to get the chance to compete this week.
“At first I was kind of depressed and I thought I wouldn’t play well today,” Lee said. “I also told my caddie to go home, so we had no caddie, and my father played with me, which made me comfortable. Yeah, he was very great.”
Lee, 25, began her day on the back nine at Liberty National Golf Club, opening with a birdie at the par-5 10th hole. She gained momentum with four birdies and one bogey between Nos. 13-17, then added another bogey and three birdies on the front nine.
“At first it was so windy when I started, but my second shots were very great,” she said. “My putting was also getting along with my shot.”
Ruffels was the only player at 4 under or better to go bogey-free on Thursday. She birdied three of her first eight holes before adding one more on the back nine.
Ruffels, 24, said she feels she’s “definitely getting more comfortable” as her rookie season progresses.
“I feel like the confidence definitely goes up when you have a few good results, and I’ve been fortunate to have a few good results this year, a few top-fives and one last week,” Ruffels said.
“… But I still kind of feel like a rookie. I’m still learning all the new courses. These girls have already seen these courses, but I’m lucky I have a pretty experienced caddie.”
Joining Ruffels at 4 under were Bianca Pagdanganan of the Philippines, Japan’s Mao Saigo, and Andrea Lee.
Major winners Jennifer Kupcho, Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit, Celine Boutier of France, Minjee Lee of Australia, and Ashleigh Buhai of South Africa are part of a large group tied at 3-under 69.
Nelly Korda opened with a 2-under 70. She is coming off the end of a five-start winning streak on tour, having finished tied for seventh at last week’s Cognizant Founders Cup.
Rose Zhang, the 20-year-old phenom who won her professional debut at last year’s Mizuho Americas Open and also won last week, withdrew Thursday due to illness.