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Kim Sei-young opened with a blitz of five birdies on Thursday and finished with three more en route to a 10-under par 62 and a two-shot lead after the first round of the Buick LPGA Shanghai.
The former South Korean world number two made nine birdies and an eagle against a single dropped shot to edge France’s Céline Boutier, who shot 64, with American Lucy Li a shot further back.
“It was really fun playing in the top nine,” Kim said after the round, describing his first streak of birdies after starting his round on the 10th as a “good vibe.”
An eagle on the par-five 17th and another birdie on the par-four 18th brought Kim to the turn in a dazzling eight-under-par 28.
Kim said she feels at home in China, where she is used to playing well.
“I think that’s why I play more relaxed and get good results,” said the 31-year-old.
World number nine Boutier, who won her first major last July, had a six-hole birdie streak midway through her round to move up to second after a slow start.
Boutier said the Shanghai course was “very impactful,” adding that “if you hit the fairways, you can definitely have a lot of chances.”
“Obviously a lot can still happen in the next three rounds,” she said.
Defending champion Angel Yin of the United States carded a 67, five shots behind the leader, culminating in an eagle on the par-five 17th.
Chinese world number four Yin Ruoning is the highest-ranked player in this field, but she was unable to ignite her home support with a level par 72, leaving her eight shots behind.
World number seven Hannah Green of Australia had a day to forget with a five-over-par 77.
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