XIAMEN, China, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Fang Xinyuan set the early pace at the Orient Women's China Open on Thursday, as the Xi'an native shot a career best eight-under-par 64 during first-round play at the national championship in southeast China's Fujian Province.

The second-year pro carded an eagle, seven birdies and a late bogey at the par-5 17th hole at Orient (Xiamen) Golf and Country Club to finish two strokes clear of Ji Yuai, the China LPGA Tour Order of Merit leader who opened with a bogey-free 66.

Thai veteran Aunchisa Utama was three shots off the pace after a 67, a shot ahead of U.S. LPGA Tour regular Liu Yan (68).

Beijing teenager Liu Yujie was the top amateur on two-under 70 in a group of four players that included defending champion Angelina Ye Lei.

In the final event of the season that will determine the CLPGA Order of Merit winner, Pang Runzhi, who is chasing Ji for the crown, opened with a one-under 71.

Fang, who has never finished higher than equal ninth as a pro, said her previous best was a four-under round.

"Today I was lucky with my putter. Everything was going well until the 17th hole when I started to feel a little bit tired. I sliced it off the tee and the ball went right to another fairway. I had to hit it back and I made bogey," said the 23-year-old, who has been playing golf for just seven years.

"I'm not thinking a lot [that it's the national championship]. I just want to confirm that my practice is resulting in improvement. That's more important for me. Just take the shots one by one. I'm still trying to find the right rhythm and hit with good tempo. I don't want to put a lot of pressure on tomorrow, just take it as it comes."

Ji, who leads Pang by RMB12,891 on the money list, reiterated that she was out to get her third win of the year at the 15th edition of the national championship. Riding a hot putter, her round included six birdies, four of which came over the first eight holes.

"If I win, it is a big win because lots of players are back from overseas. I would be very proud of myself because there are many good players in the field," said the 19-year-old from Dalian, a winner in Tianjin and Shanghai.

"I just need to keep it going. Tomorrow I need to make more birdies and just follow the pins."

Aunchisa, the Ladies European Tour regular who first played in China in 2012, also carded a bogey-free round with five birdies, four of them coming on the front nine, in the hunt for her first CLPGA Tour title.

"A win would be a good thing. I want to do the best I can. I have a full card for the LET next year," said the 33-year-old Lopburi native. "My approach shots were good today. My last LET event was not good, so I went back home and practiced, committing to what I think, what I play. Tomorrow I just need to focus. There's a lot of sloping greens here so I need to think about every shot before I hit it and set up the next shot." Enditem

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