JERUDONG, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Hong Ran set the early pace at the inaugural Brunei Ladies Open on Saturday when the South Korean veteran opened with seven-under 64 for a two-shot lead.
Oh Ji-hyun was alone in second place after carding a five-under 66 over the Empire Hotel and Country Club layout, one stroke ahead of her compatriots Lee Jung-min, Kim Su-ji, Han Jin-seon and Choi Eun-woo on 67.
Thais Narisara Kerdrit, Supamas Sangchan and Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras were the top China LPGA Tour regulars in a group of 12 players on 69. Zhang Jienalin and Chen Liqing were the leading Chinese players at even-par 71.
The KRW700 million (658,000 US dollars) tournament is tri-sanctioned by the CLPGA Tour, the Brunei Darussalam Golf Association and the LPGA of Korea Tour (KLPGA).
Suwan native Hong, a three-time winner on the KLPGA Tour but winless since 2010, put herself in contention with a bogey-free round that finished strongly with five birdies over the back nine of the Jack Nicklaus-designed seaside resort course.
"I am really happy with today's bogey-free play. I got a lot of chances to make birdies, and my putts are good today. I played in Vietnam last week, it was a little bit hotter than here, so it's totally okay for me. I like hot weather," said the 31-year-old Hong, currently 226th in the Rolex world rankings.
"The rough is pretty tough here. If the ball is in the rough it will make for a bad result. The course fits me. For the next two days the most important thing for me is to keep on the fairways and greens. If so, I will be the winner."
Chen, who saw her round derailed following three bogeys over the last seven holes, said she was disappointed with missing several birdie chances on the front nine.
"The speed of the greens is not same [as the practice days], it's like the direction of the grass near the hole is different from the surrounding," said the Guangdong native. "Tomorrow I will be more open, won't pay too much attention on my action. I must fix the two par-five holes which were bogeys today."
Tahnia Ravnjak, the wire-to-wire winner at last month's CLPGA Tour qualifying school, struggled in the opening event of the season to a six-over 77. Her round included two birdies, four bogeys and two double bogeys.
"I am not satisfied with my play today, I lost a lot of putts," said the Australian, a college standout at Campbell University in North Carolina. "Today is a struggle. I am not very fit in the heat here. On the last four holes I was even dizzy. I should keep more chances to get birdies tomorrow."
The Empire Hotel and Country Club is a 6,397-yard, par-71 layout designed by Nicklaus.
Following are the Brunei Ladies Open first round leading scores:
64 - Hong Ran (South Korea)
66 - Oh Ji-hyun (South Korea)
67 - Lee Jung-min (South Korea), Kim Su-ji (South Korea), Han Jin-seon (South Korea), Choi Eun-woo (South Korea)
68 - Park Chae-yoon (South Korea), Pak Ju-young (South Korea), Kim Ye-jin (South Korea), Lee So-young (South Korea), Ji Han-sol (South Korea), You Hyo-ju (South Korea), Jang Su-yeon (South Korea), Lee Seung-hyun (South Korea)
69 - In Ju-yeon (South Korea), Narisara Kerdrit (Thailand), Chung Ye-na (South Korea), Kim Char-young (South Korea), Nam So-yeon (South Korea), Supamas Sangchan (Thailand), Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras (Thailand), Park Ji-young (South Korea), Kim Su-ji (South Korea), Cho Jeong-min (South Korea), Ji Han-sol (South Korea), Pajaree Anannarukarn (Thailand)
70 - Pavarisa Yoktuan (Thailand), Kim So-yi (South Korea), Park Shin-young (South Korea), Lee Ji-hoo (South Korea), Ryu Hyeon-ji (South Korea), Jang So-young (South Korea), Kim Hyun-soo (South Korea), Choi He-yong (South Korea), Seo Yeun-jung (South Korea), Lim Eun-bin (South Korea), Lee Da-yeon (South Korea), Choi Ka-ram (South Korea), Park Min-ji (South Korea), Saranporn Langkulgasettrin (Thailand), Chonlada Chayanun (Thailand).
