Kim Sei-young set off with a five-birdie blitz on Thursday and finished with three more on her way to a 10-under-par 62 and a two-stroke lead after the first round of Buick LPGA Shanghai.
The South Korean former world No 2 rattled home nine birdies and eagle against just one dropped shot to go clear of France’s Celine Boutier, who shot 64, with American Lucy Li a stroke further back.
“It was really fun to play the front nine,” said Kim after the round, describing her opening birdie streak after starting her round on the 10th as a “good vibe”.
An eagle on the par-five 17th and another birdie on the par-four 18th took Kim to the turn in a dazzling eight-under-par 28.
Kim said she felt at home in China, where she has a history of playing well.
“I think that’s why I play more relaxed and good results come to me,” the 31-year-old said.
World No 9 Boutier, who won her first Major last July, had a six-hole birdie streak in the middle of her round to surge into second after a slow start.
Boutier said the Shanghai course was “very scorable”, adding that “if you hit the fairways you definitely can have a lot of chances.
“Obviously a lot can happen still in the next three rounds,” she said.
Defending champion Angel Yin of the United States had a 67, five shots off the lead, with the highlight an eagle on the par-five 17th.
South African Paula Reto’s 69 included six birdies and three bogeys, while countrywoman Ashleigh Buhai carded 73.
China’s world No 4 Yin Ruoning is the highest-ranked player in the field, but she couldn’t ignite her home support with a level-par 72 leaving her eight strokes off the pace.
Hannah Green of Australia, the world No 7, had a day to forget with five-over-par 77.
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: Zhe Ji/Getty Images
