Canada's Brooke Henderson parlayed four birdies and a late eagle into Friday's (Saturday AEDT) hottest round and a share of the lead at the LPGA's season-opening Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions.
Henderson had a five-under 66 to join Inbee Park of South Korea at nine-under 133 heading to the weekend at Four Seasons Golf and Sports Club Orlando.
Henderson, ranked No.3 and highest among the 26 LPGA players in the field, had a clean scorecard until three-putting from the back collar at the difficult closing hole for her lone bogey.
She wasn't pleased with the finish, but she also wasn't going to allow it to sour a solid body of work on a day when the scoring average was nearly 71.
Mexico's Gaby Lopez, whose lone LPGA victory is the 2018 Blue Bay tournament in China, shot 69 and is alone in third, two shots back.
Park, already a World Golf Hall of Fame member with more victories (19 on the LPGA, seven majors) in the Diamond Resorts field, does not usually compete this early in the season.
But with 2020 being an Olympic year, the gold medallist at Rio 2016 adjusted her schedule to play weeks earlier than normal - Park shot a bogey-free 68, nearly holing her third shot at the par-five 17th to set up her third and final birdie.
Only 22, Henderson is seeking her 10th LPGA victory, and has earned multiple victories in each of her four seasons on tour.
"Once it started to pick up, I guess around the seventh hole, Britt (Henderson, her younger sister and caddie) and I did a really good job of just counting in all the factors and trying to hit smart shots and give ourselves some birdie looks," Henderson said.
There are no Australians competing in Orlando.
Australian Associated Press
