ROGERS, Arkansas: Thailand's Moriya Jutanugarn is one shot off the lead and sister Ariya is a further two strokes back heading into the second round of the NW Arkansas Championship golf tournament.
Gaby Lopez of Mexico shot a career-low 8-under par 63 to take the first-round lead in the 54-hole LPGA Tour event at Pinnacle Country Club.
A three-time All-American with the University of Arkansas Razorbacks golf team before joining the Tour in 2016, Lopez has yet to reach her potential as a pro and entered this week ranked 136th in the world.
For a day, at least, the Mexican standout felt right at home atop the leaderboard in her adopted home state.
"I feel like home," Lopez said. "I feel so, so comfortable out here, because I feel that every single person out here is just rooting for us."
Moriya, who finished second at the Arkansas tournament last year, enters the second round at 7 under par along with Minjee Lee, Catriona Matthew, Nasa Hataoka, Lizette Salas, Mirim Lee and Aditi Ashok.
Currently ranked eighth in the world, the Thai star is looking for her second victory on the LPGA Tour after winning the LA Open earlier this year.
"I hit the ball very solid and started making the putts," said Moriya, whose bogey-free 64 tied for her lowest round of the year. "I wasn't missing a lot and I think it was a pretty good day."
Cheering on the Jutanugarn sisters on Friday was PGA Tour star and friend Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who marvelled at Moriya's game.
"She's incredible," said Kiradech, who has two top 10 finishes on the PGA Tour this year. "She never missed a fairway, hit every single shot inside 15 feet, which from player to player, I can't do."
Six other players finished at 6 under on a day when only 26 of the 144 competitors finished over par, thanks to midweek rain that softened the greens and calm skies throughout the day.
Ariya, already a two-time winner this year and ranked second in the world, shot an opening-round 66 and is 5 under par. She is joined by fellow Thai competitor Sherman Santiwatthanaphong and American Stacy Lewis, a former world No.1 who won the event in 2007 in 2014.
Defending champion Ryu So-yeon, coming off a victory last Sunday in Michigan, shot a 67.
