SANYA, China: Jessica Korda of the US fired a six-under 66 at the first round of the LPGA Blue Bay Championship in China on Thursday, edging ahead of a chasing pack including compatriot Michelle Wie.

Korda got off to a flying start with birdies on her first three holes, and provided a masterclass in long-range putting which culminated in a 65-foot par putt to stay at five under on the 10th hole.

“It was really nice. I was hitting the ball pretty good and then I made some long putts, as well, off the green,” said 21-year-old Korda.

“Highlight was number 10. Hit my drive way out right. Didn’t hit in the fairway.”

Wie, the US Women’s Open Champion, made five birdies in total to finish the day on 67.

Korda and Wie both went round without a bogey.

Four-time LPGA Tour winner Wie was relieved when she sank an eight-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole that circled three quarters of the hole before dropping.

“It always feels good when the ball kind of circles the hole 360 and ends up going in. It was a fun round today,” said the world number six.

Feng Shanshan, who won the Sime Darby LPGA in Malaysia earlier this month, joined Wie in second place after the Chinese world number five matched her five birdies, no bogeys statistics.

Also in joint second place were England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff, Brittany Lang of the USA, German Caroline Masson, and Lee-Anne Pace of South Africa.

The top-ranked player at the tournament, New Zealand’s world number three Lydia Ko, finished on 69.

The $2 million tournament at the Jian Lake club in Sanya on the southern island of Hainan concludes on Sunday.

Olesen, Wade share Perth lead

Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen and Australian qualifier John Wade set alight Lake Karrinyup on Thursday, blasting matching course records of eight-under-par 64 to share the opening round lead at the Perth International.

Wade had to birdie the last three holes of Monday qualifying to secure his place in the PGA Tour of Australasia and European Tour co-sanctioned tournament and the 46-year-old capitalized on a flying start to soar to the top.

The Australian, having begun his round on the 10th, sunk four birdies in his first five holes followed by an eagle on the long 15th.

“It feels a bit weird actually,” conceded Wade whose only professional victory came on the Challenge Tour in 2006. “I certainly haven’t been top of the leaderboard for a hell of a long time.

“This is ridiculous really. I didn’t know what to expect.

Olesen wielded a hot putter in his bogey-free round studded with eight birdies as the 24-yer-old Dane began his campaign for a second European Tour title since his first in Sicily two years ago.

Australian Michael Slim was two shots behind, along with the trio of Peter Whiteford, Sihwan Kim and Tom Lewis striving to keep their European Tour card alive.

Happy Diwali for Lahiri

India’s Anirban Lahiri took an early lead with a brilliant 10-under-par 61 as the Macau Open got under way Thursday, with defending champion Scott Hend a point behind.

Lahiri sank a 15-foot eagle putt on the 18th hole at the Macau Golf and Country Club for a career-low round, surpassing last year’s record-equalling 62 in the final round, when he was runner up.

With Hindus celebrating the festival of Diwali, the four-time Asian Tour winner pronounced it perfect timing.

“It’s a great Diwali and happy Diwali to everyone back home. It’s nice to have some fireworks on the course,” said Lahiri.

“I really played solid all day and it was nice to get such fantastic weather and putt well.” Australian big-hitter Hend — who won the Hong Kong Open last week for his sixth Asian Tour title — stayed on fine form, nailing five birdies and an eagle in a strong start at the $900,000 tournament.

Fellow Australian Sam Brazel took third place on 64, while Switzerland’s Martin Rominger and Australia’s Adam Groom both hit 65.

Star attraction Ernie Els of South Africa settled for 70 along with three-time Asian Tour number one Thongchai Jaidee, while Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez struggled to a 72.