Grace-ful Kim leads the way for Australia in Shanghai

Backing up from last week's equal seventh-place finish at the Lotte Championship in Hawaii, where she won her maiden LPGA Tour title in 2024, Kim rebounded from consecutive bogeys on holes eight and nine with three back-nine birdies on Thursday.

Kim is four shots behind South Korean leader Hye-Jin Choi, who amassed eight birdies in a bogey-free round of 64 at the picturesque Sheshan Golf Club.

Spaniard Carlota Ciganda (67) is the only other player in front of Lee, who shares third with Japan's Rio Takeda, Thailand's Chanettee Wannasaen and China's Yin Ruoning.

Australia's women's golf aces have historically fared well in Asia, with Kim, Lee, Hannah Green and Steph Kyriacou combining brilliantly to win the prestigious International Crown teams' event in Seoul last October.

Lee led the way, going undefeated in five thrilling match-play encounters, but has since gone right off the boil.

The triple major champion has missed the cut at her past six events either side of withdrawing with illness during the second round of the Scottish Open in July.

From No.4 in the world at season's start, Lee has slumped to 17th in the rankings.

The 30-year-old faces another fight to earn a weekend tee time in China after opening with a four-over 76 to be sitting in joint 50th place.

Fellow major winner Kim was the only Australian to break par on Thursday. 

Karis Davidson also went mighty close, but finished the day in a tie for 23rd after an even-par 72 that featured three birdies, cancelled out by the same number of bogeys.

Fellow Australians Robyn Choi and Cassie Porter both carded four-over 76s to be among a group of players sharing 61st place.

Defending champion Jeeno Thitikul, who won in a five-hole playoff over Minami Katsu here in 2025, shot a first-round 69 and was in a tie for seventh.

Thitikul won this month's Lotte Championship in Hawaii  for her fourth LPGA victory of the season and 11th overall.

- with The AP