Lewis sets the pace in Thailand

Last updated: 21st February 2013

Stacy Lewis made an excellent start to the Honda LPGA Thailand on Thursday, storming to the top of the leaderboard with a nine-under-par 63.

The American carded a near-flawless opening round that included an eagle and eight birdies as she opened a three-shot lead over Karine Iche at the Pattaya Siam Country Club.

Lewis's eagle came as early as the par-four third hole and the shots just kept rolling in after that she made birdies on the fifth, sixth and seventh, and two more at the 10th and 12th holes following the turn.

She spoiled her round with a bogey on the 16th, but was back to her best with two more birdies on the final two holes.

Lewis was delighted with the "great day" and the eagle no doubt played a major role.

"I don't know, that shot just really gave me the confidence to really start swinging at it," she said.

"I think I missed two greens all day. I just had a ton of birdie putts and I even left a few out there. The fact that it could be lower - I'm not complaining - but it was just a great day."

Icher made six birdies without dropping a shot in her six-under 66, while Catriona Matthew, Gerina Piller and South Korean duo Inbee Park and Amy Yang are tied for third at five under.

World number one and defending champion Tseng Yani had a day to forget as she finished a distant three-over 75, 12 shots behind leader Lewis.

Fiftteen-year-old New Zealand Lydia Ko made a solid start with three-under 69, but her round was spoiled with two late bogeys on 16 and 17.