For the second consecutive week, Australia's young star Su Oh is in contention on the LPGA Tour, this time in Sime Darby event in Malaysia.
Oh began with a brilliant 65 including nine birdies at TPC Kuala Lumpur, and held a two-shot lead in the tournament when she signed her card. She was later overtaken by former world No. 1 Lydia Ko, who went bogey-free in a brilliant 64, but the New Zealander is the only player ahead of Oh.
The 21-year-old Melburnian, who plays out of Metropolitan Golf Club, led the LPGA Tour event in Taipei through two rounds last week before falling away to finish 36th.
She has never won an event on the LPGA Tour but she made a roaring start with five birdies on her first nine holes, the back nine on the course.
It was an entertaining round from Oh, who also had a double bogey (at the par-four 10th hole) and a bogey on her scorecard, then bounced back with three consecutive birdies. She had a makeable putt for a 64 at her last hole, the ninth on the course, but burned the hole with her attempt.
Oh was a brilliant amateur who helped Minjee Lee to win the world amateur teams championship for Australia. Her best win as a professional was the Ladies Masters at Royal Pines in 2015.
She is a member of the Golf Australia rookie squad for talented young professionals.
"It wasn't too bad,'' she told the tournament broadcaster of the conditions. "I think we're all glad to get done before the storm.''
It is her first time playing in Malaysia, with its grainy greens. "It's not too difficult to see out there. Hopefully I can see it the rest of this week.''
Minjee Lee (68) also made a late run to put herself in the mix.
MEANWHILE, at the World Golf Championship HSBC Champions event in Shanghai, Matt Griffin had one of his best-ever rounds in a big tournament, a four-under 68, to put himself on the leaderboard in the $US9.2 million event.
He is four shots from the lead held by the USA's Brooks Koepka at eight-under.
Former world No. 1 Jason Day began with a three-under 69 to be the next-best of the Australian contingent.