Japan's Ayako Uehara matched the course record with a nine-under 62 on Friday to take the first-round lead in the LPGA Tour's NW Arkansas Championship.
Uehara, who entered the event at Pinnacle Country Club ranked 214th in the world and without a top-10 finish this year, needed only 25 putts in her bogey-free round.
She was 6-under on her final nine, birdieing the last two holes to best a 63 she shot in Malaysia in 2014.
Taiwan's Candie Kung had a 64 while 13 players - including Australia's Minjee Lee - shot 65.
Top-ranked Lydia Ko opened with a 66 while local favourite Stacy Lewis had a 67 as did Aussie Su Oh.
Playing in muggy conditions after overnight rain, Uehara took advantage of the soft greens during the morning to match the course record of 62 set by Angela Park and Jane Park in 2008.
Uehara, whose best finish in an LPGA Tour event is third at the 2012 Mizuno Classic, missed the cut in eight of her first nine tournaments to begin this year. However, she entered this weekend having finished 39th or better in five of her last six events - an improvement in play she carried over to Friday.
Second-ranked Brooke Henderson shot a 69. She beat Ko in a playoff two weeks ago in the KPMG Women's PGA Championship outside Seattle.
Defending champion Na Yeon Choi had a 75.
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