So Yeon Ryu posted a bogey-free 9-under 63 to sit in solo lead after first round of the 2016 Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic on Thursday, leading runners-up, Japanese Haru Nomura and Taiwan’s LPGA veteran Candie Kung (龔怡萍) by two strokes.

Ryu’s 63 sets a new tournament low round. Starting on the 10th hole, Ryu made seven birdies before making the turn and her back-nine 29 is also a 9-hole course record.

CTBC ambassador Hsu Wei-Lin (徐薇凌), who along with Kung, were the only two Taiwanese players to make it to the weekend here in the previous two seasons, carded a 69 to sit in a share of 10th. 15-year-old amateur Chang Ya Chun (張雅淳) and LPGA member Lee Min (李旻) both shot 1-under 71 and are in a tie for 26th. CTBC sponsored Lin Tzu-Chi (林子麒), Cheng Ssu-Chia (程思嘉) are respectively at even-par 72, T37 and 1-over 73, T59. Amateur teen Hou Yu Chiang (侯雨薔), a Swinging Skirts Golf Team sponsor exemption, also posted a 73.

Lydia Ko, who is in search for a third win in a row at this event, used a 4-under 68 to put herself on the leaderboard at T6 with veteran Scot Catriona Matthew, Korea’s Na Yeon Choi and Rachel Rohanna of the United States.

The low single-round and back-nine course records were held by Canada’s Brooke Henderson in 2015, who used a stretch of three birdies and one eagle, a 31 back-nine, en route to setting the low mark at the Lake Merced Golf Club with a second-round 65.

Ryu went in the morning wave from the back nine and only left the tenth and the thirteenth on her scorecard undecorated, making seven birdies and broke Henderson’s record. She then added two birdies on the front nine to complete a breakthrough day one. This is the lowest round for Ryu in this season.

“I was lucky to start early. There was no wind and a nice surprise it was not as cold as usual. I think everything was just great today. I hit very solid irons, only missed one green,” said Ryu. “Putting was really good as well. My caddie has been really helpful and giving me good advice. I needed just 27 putts. I had birdie chances on the final two holes but kind of let them slip away, or it would be a perfect day.”

Compared to the pleasant early conditions, Kung, who started in the afternoon wave, said it was more difficult for them to shoot low. “I like to play in the morning. The greens are still fresh. Like today, the wind was only picking up late in the day and we had to work our way past those patchy greens. So I’m really happy with how I played.” Kung also made nine birdies but had two bogeys which set her two strokes off Ryu.

Kung is a fifteen-year LPGA member. She made the cut in 23 of 26 outings in the 2015 season, finishing number 29 on the final Official Money list. This year, Kung has never missed the cut in her seven previous starts prior to this week. She took a much needed break after the ANA Inspiration, where she settled with a disappointing T65 finish.

“I have been playing well. But it’s about knowing yourself and when you have to make the right decision,” said the four-time LPGA winner, whose last win came in eight years ago at the Hana Bank-Kolon Championship. “My body and mentality level was dropping a little and I knew I needed a rest to recharge myself. I’m feeling refreshed right now.” Her best finish this season has been a T4 at the HSBC Women’s Championship.

Hsu got off in the third to the last group and was back to the clubhouse at almost 6:30 in the afternoon. “I started a bit nervous, because this tournament just means so much to us. It was better as I was getting into the rhythm,” said Hsu. “I was actually taking a more reserved approach because it will be really tough if you do not put the ball on the right position, with the rough being thick. I shot 15 greens and made a couple of long birdie putts on the 7th and 16th, which were like a bonus. So yeah, I feel really good with today.”

Being a Swinging Skirts ambassador, Lee Min found she’s been carrying too much weight of expectation during her previous two starts at the Swinging Skirts LPGA classic. “I kind of switch my mindset finally this year. Just to focus on my shots and not to worry about any other thing.”

Keeping a lighter heart, Lee was trying to make jokes between the plays with her caddie and group partners and was able to put up five birdies against four bogeys.

“I felt better. There was a wedge on the 16th where I was going to the right side of the green but I didn’t hit on the spot and my caddie and I knew it was so off right off the club,” Lee said. “But at the end it flew right toward the flagstick and sit just one yard away. Everybody was cheering. We were totally surprised. My caddie said it was scaring him out of his mind that he might have grown a few more white hairs. I just said to him like ‘don’t worry, I still got some hair dye when I was helping my mother with her white hair yesterday,’ it was fun.”

Chang Ya-Chun shook off a three-putt on the 10th, her first hole on Thursday, and made up with birdies on 13 and 14. Her tee shot went into a bunker and cost a shot on the par-3 15th but she got back to 1-under on the 3rd after making a long birdie putt and made pars on the remainings.

“I got in with a 21-footer and was hoping to make an eagle on that 14th hole. I missed a couple of 6-footers as well, could have gone better!” said Chang. “But I’m just really grateful I can be here playing with the world’s best players.”

Chang was given sponsor invitation into two tune-up events in Florida on the Symetra Tour, finishing with T2 and T39. “Thanks to the TLPGA for believing in me and giving me the opportunities. It’s been super exciting experience.” Chang shot 13 of 18 greens and needed 29 putts in her first-round 71. She had her father to caddie for her.

Ha Na Jang withdrew from the tournament after the 11th hole on Thursday.

Nine out of the top-10 in the Rolex Rankings and twenty-one top TLPGA golfers, the most ever qualified from Taiwan, are in the 150-player field of the US$2 million LPGA tournament. The winner will receive a US$300,000 prize. Friday’s play begins at 7:00 in the morning.