AP - Australian teen Minjee Lee is back in the hunt on the LPGA Tour, tied for second after the first round of the Yokohama Tire Classic in Prattville, Alabama.
Despite playing in tougher afternoon conditions, World No.12 Lee made seven birdies in a five-under 67 to be two shots behind leader Laetitia Beck, the first Israeli player to qualify for the LPGA Tour.
The winner of the Lotte Championship in Hawaii last month, Lee is seeking a third LPGA title and sits seventh on this season's money list with $US452,584 in earnings after a strong start.
The 19-year-old had four straight birdies on her first nine and birdied three of her last five holes despite cold and strengthening afternoon wind.
Normally held in hotter and firmer conditions late in the summer, the tournament was moved up because of the Olympics.
"It was pretty chilly," said Lee, who was tied with American Annie Park.
"I had my jumper on warming up and long pants and long sleeves ... just the wind makes it cold."
Lee's veteran countrywoman Karrie Webb had a 72 as she continues to search for better form ahead of the Rio Olympics, where she is set to team with Lee for Australia.
24-year-old Beck hit 11 of 14 fairways and 15 of 18 greens and had only 26 putts on the links-style Senator Course at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail's Capitol Hill complex.
She was in the first group of the day off the 10th tee. She birdied four of the final five holes on her opening nine in calmer conditions, and had three more on the second nine.
"I think the winds picked up for us only like the last five, six holes, so we played the front nine without much wind," Beck said.
"I think here on this golf course it's all putting, because it's a very scorable course."
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