HAIKOU, China, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- Lin Qianhui set the early pace at the CLPG Tour Championship on Thursday as the Beijing native carded a three-under 69 in the opening round for a one-shot lead under windy conditions in Hainan.
Sui Xiang and Ji Yuai were equal second on 70 at the tournament being played on The Vintage course at Mission Hills Resort Haikou.
Xu Ying, a 15-year-old from Zhuhai, was alone in fourth after a 71, one shot ahead of a group of five players including fellow amateur Ren Yijia, KLPGA member Li Shuying and the Thai trio of Nanthikarn Raksachat, Kusuma Meechai and Prima Thammaraks on even-par 72.
Zhou Shiyuan, the 14-year-old Chinese amateur looking to earn her third straight win against pro fields, was three-over 75 in equal 20th.
Lin, a fourth-year pro, began her day from the back nine and got off to a strong start with a birdie two at her first hole. Her early morning round also included four more birdies and two bogeys.
"I put together a good score with a couple of good breaks. I made some incredible long putts like a 45-footer for a birdie at the 18th hole (her ninth hole). I felt unreal after making some putts," said the 21-year-old who was part of captain Chiara Tamburlini's winning side at last month's Aramco Team Series in Shenzhen.
"I also made some mistakes. I made a three-putt bogey. But at the eighth hole (her 17th hole), I couldn't blame myself. I hit a good shot off the tee but the wind blew it left for an unplayable lie against a lava wall."
Ji, who is second in the Order of Merit, put herself in contention for her third win of the year with a round that featured four birdies, including three consecutively from the second hole, and two bogeys.
"Nearly all my reasonable birdies chances came on the front nine. I grasped birdie chances over there. The wind was very strong on the back nine. The final three holes were a challenge where I was happy to take three pars. I finished with a couple of crucial par putts from about 15 feet."
Sui, who has battled through back pains all year, was delighted to be in contention for her third CLPGA Tour title after carding four birdies and two bogeys.
"A 70 is an awesome score to me against such a strong wind. These greens are fast as well as tricky out there. I just made two errors. All in all, my game is quite pleasing," said the Guangdong native.
"The bunkers are interesting, but the wind is a bigger challenge to us. It could be a test for the whole week. We ought to handle it properly for the next two rounds." ■
