Former champion Phatlum Pornanong hit a 5-under 67 on Day 1 of the 2013 Hitachi Ladies Classic, already racing to a 4-shot lead over up-and-coming Taiwanese youngsters Liu Yi-Chen (Babe) (劉依貞), Phoebe Yao (姚宣榆) and Hsieh Yu-Ling (謝瑀玲), who were sitting at a tie for second with 71.

Players geared up as cold front arrived at the Orient Golf & Country Club. Only four of them got away to the clubhouse with an under-par result. But 2011 winner Pornanong seemed to be in a total different world as she put up a red-hot performance with confidence in the freezing air, firing seven birdies throughout, and three in a row on holes 10, 11 and 12.

On par-5 tenth, she failed an eagle attempt with her 5-Wood carrying her over to a mere 4 feet to the pin on her second shot, but still locked a birdie in hand. “That hole was definitely a great confidence booster,” said Pornanong.

“I feel I was in good control as this is the fourth time I’ve played here,” said Pornanong. “My big brother as my caddie helped a lot as well, who’s amazing figuring out the winds!”

Pornanong was not the only one playing the family card. Liu Yi-Chen (Babe) asked her little brother Liu Yang (劉揚) to be her caddie this week. Despite a lack of golf knowledge for her tennis-playing sibling, they sure got some chemistry going while Liu posted a solid round of 71 with two birdies and only one bogey.

2012 Yeang Der TLPGA Ladies Open winner Hsieh grabbed five birdies and finished with 71 as well in the opener. Her play of the day was when her tee shot found the right-side valley on par-5 No.5 but somewhat got back onto the green from over 200 yards distance. A successful 9-footer on her first putt gave her this surprise birdie.

2013 Hitachi Ladies Classics has inflated its purse up to NT$10 million and the eventual winner out of eight countries, 91 players will be awarded NT$2.5 million prize money.