America’s defending champion Nelly Korda tied with two-time 2019 tournament winner Hur Mi-Jung at six-under-par 66 to lead the LPGA Taiwan Championship by one shot on Thursday.

Korda claimed her maiden LPGA Tour victory at this event last year to join her elder sister Jessica as a winner on the circuit, extending a family sporting resume which also boasts a Grand Slam tennis title via father Petr.

“It’s definitely so special,” said the 21-year-old of being the defending champion, after having three bogeys coupled with seven birdies and an eagle to top the scoreboard.

“I’m recognised by so many people now and everyone is really rooting for me... Hopefully I can get it done but there’s still a lot of golf to be played.”

South Korea’s Hur managed to stay bogey-free despite hitting only 6 of 14 fairways on the rainy and windy first day at the Miramar golf County Club in New Taipei City.

Fresh from her victory at the LPGA Volunteers of America Classic in Texas early this month, Hur won her first title of the year at the Ladies Scottish Open in August to snap a five-year LPGA win drought.

Australia’s Minjee Lee, runner-up to Korda last year in Taiwan, finished third at five-under-par with four birdies following the opening round.

This year was the second time with no players from China at the tournament, as political tensions between Taipei and Beijing spilled over into the sporting arena.

Relations have plummeted since President Tsai Ing-wen took office three years ago, as her government refuses to acknowledge that Taiwan is part of “one China.”

Elsewhere, a last-minute switch back to his old clubs helped China’s Li Haotong find his groove and delight a home crowd by charging to the first-round lead in the WGC-HSBC Championships in Shanghai on Thursday.

China’s highest-ranked male golfer and its first-ever President’s Cup selection, Li’s eight-under-par 64 also made him the first Chinese player to hold a lead after any round in a World golf Championships event.

It was Li’s best performance yet after 24 previous rounds in Asia’s premiere golf event, which offers a big purse and attracts a high-powered field.

Li, known as much for his quick smile as for a fast-improving game, has emerged as China’s best hope for a long-awaited break into the top ranks of the men’s game, and he looked it in Shanghai.

Agence France-Presse