Hu storms to a three-shot lead in Wanning

Hu Jing set the early pace at the Wanning Women's Golf Open on Thursday as the veteran from Hong Kong, China, battled through wet conditions to shoot a five-under 67 for a three-shot lead in the opening round of the penultimate tournament of the CLPG Tour season.

Beijing native Shi Yuli carded a birdie on her final hole at Oak Forest Golf Club for a two-under 70 to sit alone in second place at the 500,000 yuan ($70,700) tournament, a new event on the CLPG Tour schedule.

Thais Kusuma Meechai, Pattamavadee Kittikanok and Wannasiri Sirisampant, Indonesian Patricia Sinolungan and China's Fan Shuangshuang, and Zhang Jingwen were equal third on one-under 71.

Tang Rongze and Liu Yujie were the top amateurs on even-par 72, tied for equal ninth with Chinese pros Chen Yulin, Xu Ying, Liu Yuqi and Li Dongmei, Thailand's Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong and Japanese Misaki Takagi.

Hu, who has never finished higher than ninth at a CLPG Tour event, started her morning round on the mountainous Oak Forest back nine and held steady to card five birdies through her first 15 holes. After dropping her only shot at the 546-yard, par-five seventh hole, her 16th hole, she closed with a birdie three at her final hole, the 313-yard ninth.

"I played quite well today. Honestly, I'm very satisfied. There were a few little hiccups in the middle but overall I had really good luck. I'd give myself a 95 out of 100," said the 24-year-old, 1225th on the Rolex World Rankings.

"My putting was very solid today and that's really important on this course. Today I tried to leave myself putts from distances where I could settle in and stroke it comfortably. On the par-three 12th hole my tee shot wasn't great, but I chipped in for birdie from the left side. I started on the 10th hole, so getting a chip-in that early did gave me confidence."

Shi, who has twice posted equal runner-up finishes this season, also started from the 10th tee and got off to a difficult start in posting bogeys at her second and fourth holes. After making the turn at one-over, she then finished strongly with four birdies over her back nine, the front nine, in the hunt for her first CLPG Tour title.

"I didn't quite find my rhythm at the beginning today, but my game gradually came back over the last nine holes. I made four birdies, which I'm pretty happy about. My driver was solid overall. I hit 100 percent of the fairways," said the 23-year-old Shi, the younger sister of Japan Tour regular Shi Yuting

"I didn't do any special preparation for this event. I practiced as usual, and my recent form has been pretty good. My goal this year has been to win a CLPG Tour event, but it hasn't happened yet. I hope I can give it an extra push in the last two tournaments."

Notable scores included Zhou Shiyuan, the country's top amateur, on 73, while CLPG Tour point ranking leader Wang Zixuan opened with a 75. Zeng Liqi, the Nanchang native who is back home after difficult year in the US, struggled to a six-over 78. Her fellow Epson Tour regulars, Ye Li and Ren Yue, each shot 74.

Oak Forest Golf Club is a 6,611-yard, par-72 layout designed by CJ Tan.

Wanning Women's Golf Open first round leading scores

Players are from China's mainland unless indicated *denotes amateur

67 – Hu Jing (HKG)

70 – Shi Yuli

71 – Pattamavadee Kittikanok (THA), Wannasiri Sirisampant (THA), Patricia Sinolungan (INA),

Fan Shuangshuang, Kusuma Meechai (THA), Zhang Jingwen

72 – Tang Rongze*, Chen Yulin, Xu Ying, Misaki Takagi (JPN), Liu Yujie*,

Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong (THA), Liu Yuqi, Li Dongmei

73 – Pasinee Thongthaengyai (THA). Su Wenlu, Ren Yijia*, Long Meidan,

Kultida Pramphun (THA), Zhou Shiyuan*, Liu Wenbo

74 – Wang Xinyu*, Siri Patchana (THA), Ye Lei, Chang Chi-yen (TWN), Wu Tianqi,

Chakansim Khamborn (THA), Ng Jing Xuen (MAS), Panitta Yusabai (THA),

Cai Danlin, Li Jieni, Peng You, Ren Yue