Major champions Hannah Green and Grace Kim and rising star Cassie Porter have led a promising Australian challenge to start the LPGA Thailand.
Green, Kim and Porter all carded first-round five-under-par 67s at the Siam Country Club to be tied sixth in Pattaya.
Green was labouring along at even par through 10 holes before bursting to life and reeling off five birdies on the inward nine.
In contrasting fashion, after opening her round with an eagle three, the 23-year-old Porter drained four birdies in a hot start to more than offset her lone bogey on Thursday.
Fellow Sydneysider Grace Kim, the reigning Evian Champion champ, also mixed six birdies with a bogey to join the pair at five under.
The trio, along with Thai world No.1 Jeeno Thitikul, is two shots behind Japan’s Nasa Hataoka, who had eight birdies in a sizzling round of 65, and home hope Chanette Wannasaen.
Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh and South Koreans Hye-Jin Choi and Somi Lee all notched first-round 66s to share third spot at the $US1.8 million ($A2.6 million) event which kick-starts the LPGA Tour’s Asian swing.