The teenager’s round got off to a solid start with three straight pars, they were followed by a bogey-eagle-birdie stretch. Another birdie on the par 4 ninth, saw her go out in three-under-par 33. On the way home, a bogey on the 12th was offset by a closing birdie on the par 5 18th.
Lee is chasing South Korean Haeji Kang, who posted six birdies and one bogey on her way to signing for five-under-par 67 on the Ocean course at the Sky72 Golf Club in Incheon.
Lee was paired with good friends Hyo Joo Kim and Lydia Ko. “We had a really young group today, Lydia and myself and Hyo Joo,” said Lee.
"We just had fun out there and a lot of laughs, a lot of smiles. I think it looks good on telly and just having fun out there was the main goal for me.”
Lee said a lot of the chatter was about the choices of on-course snacks and says Ko is definitely the biggest eater out of the three of them.
“Not golf. Food. We were talking about how much we eat on the course and just girl stuff,” said Lee. “I think definitely Lydia. She just keeps eating a little bit here and there.”
Lee fared the best out of her group and got a little push from her playing partners early on. Asked whether she felt pressure playing alongside two LPGA Tour winners, Lee said it was more of a positive influence.
“Not really. I was more impressed than felt pressure. Both girls made birdie before me, so I was like, I should make birdie, too, so I did.”
With a solid opening round, Lee set her sights high on what she hopes to accomplish this week in Incheon.
“I've had a good start, so I'm hoping Top 5, is my goal."
Kang holds a two stroke advantage over Lee, Scot Catriona Matthew and three other Koreans, Illhee Lee, Amy Yang and Mirim Lee. Another eight players, including two time winner of the event, Suzann Pettersen are a further shot back.
Lee is playing this week in the limited field event on a sponsor invite. There are two other Australians teeing it up alongside Lee, Queenslanders Katherine Kirk and Sarah Jane Smith. Kirk is tied for 37th position at two over par, while Smith is a further shot back and tied for 49th.