Linn Grant of Sweden and Jaravee Boonchant of Thailand are tied for the lead after one round of the Dana Open on Thursday in Sylvania, Ohio.
Grant and Boonchant shot rounds of 64 at Highland Meadows Golf Club to eke in front of the pack at seven under, with Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn and Denmark's Emily Kristine Pedersen one shot back, and Rose Zhang among a host of players on five under.
Grant poured in seven birdies in a bogey-free round, while Boonchant kicked off her round with an eagle and had two bogeys to go with seven birdies.
Grant was an LPGA rookie last season and had a breakthrough performance this past May with a third-place showing at the Bank of Hope LPGA Match-Play.
The 24-year-old began her round on the back nine and made all pars until the par-4 16th. She took advantage there and the next two holes for a three-birdie run before adding four more on the front nine.
"I was striking the ball really well both off the tee and into the greens," Grant said. "I just felt very comfortable with my swing and didn't have to force anything. I was just having great tempo, so just try and keep that for tomorrow."
Boonchant is also 24 and in her rookie year. She couldn't have gotten off to a better start to the tournament when she holed out for eagle from 128 yards at the 10th hole, her first hole of the day.
"I never thought I would, like, hole out. I was just trying to hit the green," Boonchant said. "I had 128 to the pin I believe and I was just like on the first cut and I was like, 'OK, this shot, just anywhere on the green' and the ball just happened to hit one bounce and hop in the hole."
Boonchant had missed four cuts in a row entering the week and has one top-10 finish this season.
Jutanugarn turned in a clean card with six birdies, while Pedersen had seven birdies and one bogey.
Pedersen, who was the clubhouse leader for a length of time before Grant and Boonchant finished, has won five times on the Ladies European Tour but never on American soil.
Ireland's Stephanie Meadow and Lauren Walsh are nine shots off the lead on two over.
