Yuka Saso produced a solid three-under-par 69 to share joint fifth in the Mizuho Americas Open at the Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, New Jersey on Thursday.
Coming off four straight missed cuts, the 21-year-old Filipino-Japanese started at the back and bogeyed 3. She, however, produced four birdies in the next six holes to reach the turn on 3-under.
At the front, Saso countered a bogey on 1 with a birdie on 4.
She averaged 306 yards off the tee, hitting all but one fairway and reached 15 greens in regulation.
Allisen Corpuz, an American of Filipino descent, opened with a 72.
Meanwhile, amateur star Rose Zhang got off to a solid start in her highly anticipated pro golf debut but it was Lauren Hartlage in the lead.
Zhang, the top-ranked woman amateur and a two-time US collegiate individual champion, was in the spotlight in her pro debut.
The 20-year-old Californian fired five birdies and three bogeys in her two-under-par 70, which put her five shots behind first-round leader Hartlage.
India’s Aditi Ashok was two off the lead after a bogey-free five-under-par 67.
Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul and Northern Ireland’s Stephanie Meadow shared third on 68 and world No. 3 Lydia Ko headlined a big group on 69.
“It was amazing,” Zhang said. “It felt pretty regular throughout the round once I got into the zone.”
“But the anticipation was for sure there. I feel like there has been a lot of things happening the last couple days and last couple weeks, so for me to come out here and just try to stay composed, I feel like I did a pretty good job at it.”
Hartlage got off to a hot start with an eagle at her opening hole, the par-five 10th.
“Hit it to a foot and tapped in for eagle, so getting off to a really good start always helps,” said the 25-year-old who is chasing a first LPGA title in her second season on the tour.
“I was just hitting my driver great,” said Hartlage, who added five birdies. “I think I hit almost every fairway, and out here getting yourself in a good position, the greens are pretty receptive, so it’s getting yourself in the fairway, and I gave myself a lot of good birdie chances.”
Hartlage was delighted to have turned things around after going 0-3 at the LPGA Match-Play in Las Vegas last week.
“I feel like no one really expects me to be at the top, and it’s kind of fun just being able to just play with some of the best in the world and see how I rank,” she said.
