SHANGHAI, June 2 (Xinhua) -- Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong had a hot hand during first-round play of the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Championship on Friday as the Thai opened with an eight-under 64 for a two-shot lead in Shanghai.
Zhang Yahui, China's top female amateur, was second after the Wuhan teenager carded a 66 over the Lanhai International Golf Club Yangtze Dunes layout. Thailand's Patcharajutar Kongkraphan and Chinese Taipei's Lin Tzu-chi were equal third at four shots back after both shot 68.
Sherman, who started her afternoon round from the Lanhai back nine under windy conditions, came out firing at the links-style layout with three straight birdies to start. She would post seven more birdies over her round and a double-bogey six after a three-putt at the 394-yard 18th (her ninth hole).
"My approach shots with my irons were really good today. I hit maybe 15 greens. On the fourth hole, I hit the flag from 140 yards with my nine-iron. The ball landed about eight feet from the pin and I converted the putt," said the 26-year-old Bueng Kan native, a regular on the US LPGA Tour from 2017-2019.
"With some holes here I was not really comfy with my driver, so I just choose to use my three-wood and play safe and make the green. With links golf, it's usually windy and if you miss the fairway you can't go to the green."
Zhang, currently 42nd in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, returned to the clubhouse as the early leader. Her morning round included a 40-foot putt for an eagle three at the 17th, five birdies, including three straight to the end, and a bogey five at the sixth hole after also starting her day from the back nine.
"I feel good about my game because my putting was really great. Approach shots were good too. Left me plenty of birdie chances. I hit some errant shots off the tee, but finally, I could bail myself out," said the Wuhan native who competed at the prestigious Augusta National Women's Amateur earlier this year.
"I had a couple of good breaks over the final holes. I drove further than I expected and surpassed 280 yards in downwind. I just changed my swing to try to hit it further." ■