Brittany Lang birdied five of the first seven holes in windy conditions and shot a seven-under 65 on Thursday to take the first-round lead in the LPGA event in Alabama.
Added to the US Solheim Cup team on Monday as one of Juli Inkster's two captain's picks, Lang had a two-stroke lead over Tiffany Joh, Sydnee Michaels and Ryann O'Toole.
Julieta Granada, Hyo Joo Kim, Ariya Jutanugarn, Therese Koelbaek and Simin Feng were three strokes back at 68.
Lexi Thompson, the 2011 winner at age 16, opened with a 69 as did Australian Katherine Kirk.
Of the other Aussies, Minjee Lee was tied for 42nd after a 72 followed by Emma de Groot and Sarah Jane Smith a shot back, Stacey Keating (74) and Sarah Kemp (75).
"It was just one of those days. It was so enjoyable," Lang said. "I wasn't thinking about a whole lot. I was just super committed to seeing my shots. It was so much fun."
The 30-year-old Texan won the 2012 Manulife Financial LPGA Classic in Canada for her lone LPGA Tour title. She was second this year in the Ontario event and has three other top-10 finishes.
"I'm in a really nice place right now," Lang said. "I had one of my better years ... and the Solheim pick's over with. I'm just in a really comfortable place, so I just felt really relaxed out there."
Canadian teen Brooke Henderson had a 71. The 17-year-old Henderson won her first LPGA Tour title two weeks ago in Portland, Oregon.
Mi Jung Hur, the winner last year at a tournament-record 21-under 267, shot a 74.
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