New Zealander Lydia Ko has wasted little time in showing she will again be a force to be reckoned with on the LPGA Tour in 2015.
The 17-year-old carded a four-under-par 68 to sit two shots off the pace after the first round of the season-opening $US1.5 million ($A1.9 million) Coates Golf Championship in Florida.
But her round was mixed, with six birdies offset by two bogeys.
World No.3 Stacy Lewis shares the lead on six under with fellow American Jessica Korda and Spaniard Azahara Munoz.
Starting on the back nine at the Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club, Ko got off to a strong start to birdie her opening hole only to give back the shot a hole later.
She repeated the pattern later to birdie the 15th only to drop a shot at the next hole.
She turned at one-under after picking up a shot on the par-five 18th and then nailed three birdies on the way home to end within reach of the leaders.
Some in the 118-strong field were unable to complete their round due to darkness.
Ko, ranked second in the world, finished last season on a high, winning the season-ending Tour Championship and securing a $US1 million ($A1.26 million) bonus for clinching the LPGA Tour's season-long points race.
Minjee Lee is the best-placed Australian at two-under-par.
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