AP - Minjee Lee has carded a four-under par 68 to be tied for third after the first round of the inaugural LPGA Volvik Championship in Michigan.
The 19-year-old Australian is four shots behind leader LPGA veteran Christina Kim (64) while Ariya Jutanugarn put herself in prime position in pursuit of a third successive LPGA victory with a 65 on Thursday.
The two friends enjoyed a nice cushion over the chasing pack, with Lee, Ryu So-yeon of South Korea and American Alex Marina equal third on 68.
Ariya has a chance to become the first player to win three consecutive LPGA tournaments since Park In-bee pulled off the trifecta in 2013.
New Zealand's world No.1 Lydia Ko carded a 71.
Of the other Australians, Sarah Kemp was tied for 17th at one-under 71 followed by Sarah Jane Smith (72) while Su Oh (77) and Katherine Kirk (77) struggled.
Ariya did not even carry a driver in her bag, but that did not stop her from bagging seven birdies in a bogey-free round.
Kim has served as a friend and mentor to the 20-year-old Thai, who at one point missed 10 cuts in a row in her rookie season.
"I'm just so proud of her," Kim, 32, said of Ariya after the American shot five-under 31 on her second nine for a sizzling 64 at Travis Pointe Country Club in Ann Arbor.
"She's such an incredible young woman.
"I think that for her it was just a matter of breaking the shell and getting over that first hump and getting that first win, and she is going to be just an absolute world beater."
Ariya, coming off back-to-back wins at the Yokohama Tire Classic and Kingsmill Championship, echoed a mutual admiration for Kim, whose first of three LPGA titles came in 2003.
"She's very, very, very nice person. She great," the young Thai said. "Last year I played bad and she the only person come and talk to me like, 'Keep going.' She's such a nice person."
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