Feng Shanshan opened her Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia title defence in solid fashion with a five-under-par 66 to sit one stroke off the lead after the first round Thursday.
Alison Lee of the United States and Lin Xiyu of China shared the lead at six-under after starting with a slew of birdies and hanging on after a three-hour rain delay disrupted play.
Feng, the Chinese world number 7, kept the pace with six birdies of her own at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.
“Overall I think I did well to score five under. I’m happy I did not have too much pressure during the round and still brought out my A-Game,” said Feng.
Michelle Wie, who like Lee played a role in the United States’ emotional Solheim Cup victory over Europe last month, was among three players also at five-under.
World number one Inbee Park carded a three-under-par 71 with three birdies on an otherwise clean card.
Second-ranked Lydia Ko, who at age 18 became the youngest women’s major winner at the Evian Championship last month, double-bogeyed the 11th hole and followed with a bogey on the next.
She ended the day on even par along with a pack of golfers including 2013 winner Lexi Thompson.