Lee-Anne Pace shot 69 in round one of the Fubon LPGA Taiwan Classic to share fifth place on three under par, two shots behind leader Sakura Yokomine.
Pace started her day with a birdie at the third, then added two more at the sixth and seventh before an untimely bogey at the eighth stopped her charge.
The world number 44 started moving again with a birdie at the 12th, followed by another at the 16th, before a drop at the last set her into a share of fifth alongside four other players.
Pace has made 17 cuts in 22 starts on the LPGA Tour this season, including a runner-up finish at the LPGA Classic in April.
SA’s best female golfer will be looking to finish the season strong, with this being the seventh-last tournament on the schedule. After shooting 69 in windy conditions at Miramar Golf & Country Club on Thursday she’ll be full of confidence.
Some big names shared second place, including Paula Creamer and Brooke Henderson, who were in the hunt for victory.
‘I’ve always played really well when it’s windy and just kind of tough’ said Creamer. ‘You have to think a lot out there. Colin (her caddie) and I worked really well as a team today. I mean, it’s pretty windy in certain spots out on this golf course, and he did a good job of figuring that out for us.’
Henderson, meanwhile, finished strong on the back nine to secure her share of second place on four under par.
‘(On 15) I was thinking in my head, try and get up and down and save par and then try and make some birdies on the last three holes. I was able to chip that one in, birdie 16, had a good chance on 17, birdied 18. It was really the ideal ending,’ said the young Canadian.
