NEW JERSEY - South African veteran Lee-Anne Pace blitzed into the lead of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
It was all thanks to a blemish-free opening round in New Jersey.
Pace fired four of her five birdies on the back nine at Baltusrol to go in the lead.
She opened with seven straight pars, followed by a birdie at the eighth with three more in a five-hole stretch from the 11th.
She then took advantage of the par-five last to grab the solo lead.
Pace is trailed by a chasing threesome of China's duo Lin Xiyu and Yin Ruoning and Canada's Brooke Henderson.
They all share second place, sitting just a stroke ahead of Thailand's Wichanee Meechai.
The second closest-placed South African is Paula Reto in an eight-way share of 17th place after an equal par opening round of 71.