Lee, Kung lead in Singapore

Australia's Minjee Lee and Candie Kung of Taipei share the lead after the first round of the HSBC Women's Champions in Singapore after firing a five-under 67 on Thursday.

The 19-year-old Lee was in red hot form with birdies on the first, fourth and 13th holes with an eagle on the par-five 12th. She bogeyed the par-three 17th, but at the par-five 18th she made a birdie to finish with a 67.

"I played steady, pretty solid, hit some good shots and just seized my birdie opportunities, pretty much," said Lee afterwards.

Kung looked very solid in her opening round with birdies on the second, fourth, seventh, 10th and 18th holes and also picking up an eagle on the par-five 12th. 

Her only blemishes on a near-perfect day were two bogeys at the par-four 13th and par-four 15th holes for her round of 67. 

One stroke behind are four players – defending champion Inbee Park of South Korea, Suzann Pettersen (Norway), Lee-Anne Pace (South Africa) and Mika Miyazato of Japan. 

World number one Lydia Ko of New Zealand shot 71 and is joint-27th with the likes of 2013 HSBC winner Stacy Lewis and Lexi Thompson.

Leading first round scores:

T1 Candie Kung    -5 (67)
T1 Minjee Lee    
T3 Suzann Pettersen    -4 (68)
T3 Mika Miyazato
T3 Lee-Anne Pace
T3 Inbee Park
T7 Sun-Ju Ahn -3 (69)
T7 Mi Hyang Lee    
T7 Ilhee Lee
T7 Shanshan Feng
T7 Mirim Lee
T12    Hyo Joo Kim    -2 (70)
T12    Pernilla Lindberg
T12    Anna Nordqvist
T12    Kris Tamulis
T12    Na Yeon Choi
T12    Pornanong Phatlum
T12    Gerina Piller
T12    Sandra Gal
T12    Cristie Kerr
T12    Angela Stanford    
T12    Chella Choi    
T12    Brooke M. Henderson    
T12    Hee Young Park    
T12    Carlota Ciganda    
T12    Ha Na Jang