HONOLULU — Natthakritta Vongtaveelap eagled the par-5 fifth and closed with a chip-in birdie in fading light on the par-3 ninth for a 6-under 66 and a share of the first-round lead Wednesday in the LPGA Tour’s Lotte Championship.
“Very surprised. Excited,” the 20-year-old Thai player said about the closing chip at sunset.
She had a bogey-free round at windy Hoakalei Country Club to join fellow afternoon starter Frida Kinhult atop the leaderboard.
“I play knock-down today many shots so the wind cannot make movement for my ball,” Vongtaveelap said.
Full-field scores from the Lotte Championship
Vongtaveelap is making her second LPGA Tour start.