Nasa Hataoka of Japan racked up seven birdies to open the LPGA season in style, setting the first-round lead at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournamentof Champions on Thursday in Orlando, Florida.
Hataoka rolled in consecutive birdies at the 10th and 11th, and 15th, 16th at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club to head to the clubhouse with a six-under-par 66. A star-studded quartet is one stroke back at five-under: world No 1 JeenoThitikul of Thailand, her compatriot Chanettee Wannasaen, Englishwoman Lottie Woad and Sweden's Linn Grant.
World No 2 Nelly Korda and South Korea's Amy Yang are another shot back at four-under.
Thirty-nine players were invited to the season opener, a 72-hole event without a cut. They are playing alongside 44 amateurs playing in a separate competition with a Modified Stableford scoring format. Retired tennis pro Mardy Fish, a four-time winner of the celebrity division, has the early four-point lead there after scoring a 39.
Hataoka birdied two par-three holes on the front nine before taking her only bogeyof the round at the par-four seventh hole. Of her four birdies coming in, the par-five 11th saw her hole a lengthy putt from the fringe.
Defending champion A Lim Kim of South Korea opened with a three-under 69, as did New Zealand star Lydia Ko.
