Andrea Lee birdied four of her last five holes to take the first-round lead at the Mizuho Americas Open by a single shot on Thursday in West Caldwell, N.J.
Lee posted a 6-under 66, enough for a slight edge over two of the top players on the LPGA Tour, New Zealand's Lydia Ko and Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul. Another shot back in a tie for fourth were Brooke Matthews and South Korea's Hye-Jin Choi.
Lee, a 27-year-old from California, started her day on the back nine at Mountain Ridge Country Club and shook
off an early bogey at No. 11 with birdies at the next two holes.
She stood at just 2 under after 13 holes before her closing surge. Lee finished the round having hit all 14 fairways and 16 of 18 greens in regulation.
"I really didn't see 6-under today to be honest, so I'm quite pleased (with) that," Lee said. "The game plan going into today was just staying really patient, trying to hit as many greens and fairways as possible, and just know that pars is good score and trying to minimize bogeys. I did pretty well with that today, and hopefully can keep it going the rest of the week."
It marked Lee's lowest round of the season as she searches for her second win on tour and her first since September 2022.
"I think this is a great golf course for us, great test of golf. Honestly feels like a major championship just with how firm and fast the greens are and how tough the conditions are," Lee said. "The game plan is just to stay really patient."
Ko, the LPGA Hall of Famer, would love to land her first win in 14 months after her 5-under 67 put her in good position. That included an eagle at the par-5 13th.
"I actually putted really well, which was a nice change," Ko said. "I haven't putted well since I shot 60 (at the Ford Championship in March), and that day I had a new putter and this week I have a new putter.
"I don't know if it's like a one-off honeymoon phase, but I'll take it regardless. You know, the greens are very undulating and tough, so I feel like you need to be really smart in where you leave your second shots."
Meanwhile, World No. 2 Thitikul is the defending champion, though last year's edition was played at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City. She carded four birdies, one eagle and just one bogey, going birdie-birdie-eagle at Nos. 6-8.
"I (didn't) hit my tee shot that good. It went into the rough," Thitikul said of the eagle. "Luckily it wasn't in -- the ball stayed up high in the rough, which is I can be able to get on the green in two. And then I had like 20-, 21-foot putts and I hole it because it's uphill putt, right to left. Better than left to right for me for sure."
World No. 5 Hannah Green of Australia is part of a tie for sixth at 3-under 69 with Gina Kim, Japan's Nasa Hataoka and Germany's Polly Mack.
Tournament host Michelle Wie West is playing her first LPGA event in more than three years ahead of her return to the U.S. Women's Open in June. She struggled to a 10-over 82 on Thursday.
"I got so nervy out there. I think I was just shocked at how nervous I got," Wie West said. "Then double down on these greens are tough. These girls are really good out here.
"I think it's just such a great reminder for people watching on TV that these girls out here are dialed. They're playing on these conditions week after week and tough as these greens are they're handling it great. So for me today it was just -- the greens felt exponentially harder."
--Field Level Media
