GUANGZHOU, March 13 (Xinhua) -- China's Lin Xinen set the early pace during first-round play of the Golfjoy Women's Open in Dongguan, south China's Guangdong Province, as the rookie pro carded a five-under 67 for a one-shot lead on Thursday.

Playing on the Leadbetter Course at Mission Hills Golf Club, Li Menghan was second after a 68, a shot ahead of fellow amateur Tang Rongze and Ornnicha Konsunthea at the tournament, a new event on the CLPG Tour schedule.

Zeng Liqi, who is playing her home tour for the first time since the 2023 Women's China Open, opened with a two-over 70 to sit equal fifth with Cai Danlin.

Lin, who turned pro in September, took advantage of the calm conditions in her early morning round to card four birdies over the front nine. She then held steady over the back nine in picking up another stroke at the 389-yard 15th to complete her bogey-free round.

"My approach shots were very good, which led to plenty of birdie chances within 15 feet. I made some of them, but missed some, too," said the 18-year-old Guangzhou native, a student at Shenzhen University.

"It's nice that I didn't make any bogeys. It's been a long while since that last happened. I had a good bounce at the third hole leaving me a three-foot putt for birdie which I made. It's a good start for me."

Coming off an equal 17th finish at last week's Women's Amateur Asia Pacific in Vietnam, Li started her round on the back nine where she reeled off three birdies through the first seven holes before making a bogey five at the 18th (her ninth). She then stumbled to another bogey at the first (her 10th hole) before recovering to post three consecutive birdies starting from the 510-yard sixth hole (her 15th hole).

"I made two straight bogeys at the 18th hole and the first hole, which caused a bit of a rollercoaster in my emotions. These were two mistakes that shouldn't have happened, especially the three-putt at the first hole," said the national team member from Qingdao.

"However, I re-set my mind and managed to bounce back with three birdies late in the round. It was still a decent round."

Tang also finished strongly with three consecutive birdies starting from the 15th hole after being even-par through the first 14 holes.

"Today's score looks decent, but I still feel like that my tee shots weren't up to my expectations," said the Shandong teenager. "The fairways are wider out there and the rough isn't as thick, so there's a higher margin for error. I hit 10 fairways today."

Zeng, who is playing on the Epson Tour development circuit in the U.S. this year after losing her playing card on the LPGA Tour, scored the lone eagle of the day when she made a three at the 501-yard second (her 11th hole) after starting on the back nine.

"It's been a long time since the last CLPG event. On the front nine, I struggled to adapt to the speed. My start wasn't great, and as I continued to play poorly. I put too much pressure on myself," said the 18-year-old, a four-time winner on the CLPG Tour.

"My game was quite frustrating before the turn, but after bogeying the 17th hole I told myself to relax a bit and play with more determination. I played well on the back nine. Sinking an 18-foot eagle putt really turned things around. Enditem

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