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Japanese rookie Mao Saigo carded a 6-under-par 63 to take a one-shot lead after the first round of the LPGA Maybank Championship in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.
South Korea’s Ryu Hae-ran shot a 64, while China’s Liu Ruixin and Taiwan’s Hsu Wei-ling finished third with identical 65s.
Six players were tied for fifth, including two-time major winner Yuka Saso.
The day, however, belonged to Saigo, 23, who made 10 birdies against a solitary bogey under clear skies at the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club.
“The course is tough because there are so many ups and downs, but I love playing here,” said Saigo, who is in her first season on the LPGA Tour.
“I’m going to rest and recover for the next few days.”
Saigo made six birdies on the front nine and continued his streak with two more birdies on the 10th and 11th holes.
Another steady birdie putt at 15, followed by a final one at 16, and the Japanese looked set to finish with a flawless scorecard.
Saigo made a bogey on the next hole but was happy with her overall performance.
“I made a lot of mid-length putts and that’s how I played really well,” she said.
Ryu, a two-time LPGA Tour winner, finished her first round with back-to-back birdies for a flawless scorecard.
“Today my putting is good, better than last week,” said the 23-year-old Korean.
“I made a lot of birdies and I’m happy. I just need to get more comfortable with my shots and my putting. That’s my mindset.”
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