Filipina Clariss Guce fired a four-under 68 on Thursday to launch her campaign for an LPGA full card in the Q-Series at the Magnolia Grove Crossing course in Alabama.
Just two strokes off the leader, Guce, whose best finish in the lower-tier Epson Tour this season was T4 at Tuscaloosa, will enter the second of the six rounds tied for four.
She opened the front nine with five of her six birdies including back-to-back from 8th. She also scored on the 15th to cushion the sting of her bogeys on 10 and 18.
Over at the Falls course, compatriot Dottie Ardina struggled with an even-par 71 for joint 52nd and Pauline del Rosario at one-over 72 for joint 66th.
Guce has won two tournaments in Epson Tour and is hoping to finish in the top 45 and ties which automatically earn LPGA cards for 2024.
Top 20 and ties will play out of Category 14. The rest of those earning LPGA membership will play out of Category 15 while those outside the Top 45 and ties will settle for Epson Tour status. There will be a cut after 72 holes.
Ssu-Chia Cheng opened her third appearance at Q-series strong, making a birdie on her first hole of the Crossings Course.
She would proceed to make two pars on holes 2 and 3 before beginning a streak of birdies that would stretch from the par-4 4th hole to the par-5 6th hole.
One shot behind Cheng sits Canadian Savannah Grewal and American Gigi Stoll. After turning professional just last week, Grewal started her professional career quickly at Q-Series, shooting a five-under 66 on the Falls Course.
There are currently nine players sitting in a tie for fourth behind Cheng, Grewal and Stoll.
