SINGAPORE — World No 16 Lee Minjee and No 41 Candie Kung finished as joint leaders at the end of the first day of this week’s HSBC Women’s Champions, with both carding a five-under-par 67.

With breezy conditions presenting a challenge for the 63-women field at the Sentosa Golf Club’s tricky par-72 Serapong Golf Course yesterday, it was 19-year-old Lee from Australia and Taiwanese-born American Kung, 34, who best navigated their way around it.

Lee, the world’s top amateur golfer in 2014 before she turned professional that year, made four birdies and an eagle. Her only blemish of the day was a bogey on the 17th hole.

“Nothing stands out for me. I was just really steady today,” said Lee, who has jumped from 46th spot to 16th in the women’s world rankings over the past year. “I just tried to minimise my mistakes and take advantage of my opportunities to make birdies.

“My coach and I were just working on some swing changes … I think I’m getting the hang of it. We’ve been working on my putting more too, and it is getting steadier as well.”

Kung was undeterred by the windy conditions, saying: “I love wind. Windy is good, it makes it tough for everybody. It brings everybody into the game, and you have to hit good shots out there and make your putts.”

Meanwhile, world No 1 Lydia Ko and No 2 Park Inbee did not have the best day in the office, finishing joint-27th and joint-3rd respectively.

Defending champion Park, who at last year’s tournament had a career-first bogey-free round, admitted it was heartbreaking that she could not repeat the same feat this year, after making a bogey on the 17th: “It was going to come at some point. It’s actually nice to get it over with today, without playing with it (pressure of not making a bogey) for the next three days.”

“It was a good round still. I think I’m still a little bit rusty from taking so much break in the off-season (to recuperate from a niggling back injury), but today’s round is the best yet of the season.

“It will be good if I can hold the trophy at the end of the tournament. But, if not, what matters to me is just building up the confidence.”

While Park seems to be getting on well with her back pain, her compatriot, world No 6 Chun In Gee, pulled out of the tournament with a back injury.

She is replaced by the 130th-ranked Chinese player, Jing Yan.

LEADERBOARD (Selected)

67 Lee Minjee (Aus), Candie Kung (USA)

68 Suzann Pettersen (Nor), Park Inbee (Kor), Lee-Anne Pace (Rsa), Mika Miyazato (Jpn)

69 Feng Shanshan (Chn), Mirim Lee (Kor), Ilhee Lee (Kor), Lee Mi Hyang (Kor), Ahn Sun Ju (Kor)