Chen and Pavarisa share early lead in Zhuhai

China's Chen Liqin and Thailand's Pavarisa Yoktuan battled through wet conditions in Guangdong province on Thursday to shoot even-par 72 to share the opening-round lead at the Zhuhai Hengqin Phoenix Tree Building Challenge.

With rain and windy conditions hampering the field at the RMB500,000 China LPGA Tour event at Orient Zhuhai, Chinese players Zhang Yuyang and Zhang Weiwei were one stroke back after a 73, tied with Thailand's Saraporn Chamchoi and South Korean Lee Ye-seul.

Chinese amateur Ji Yifan and compatriot Shi Yuting were two shots off the pace at 74, tied for equal seventh with Chinese Taipei's Lin Tzu-chi, Switzerland's Anais Maggetti and Thai Thanuttra Boonraksasat.

Guangdong native Chen said she was happy with her score, but lamented that it could have been better after missing two par putts in a row at the 14th and 15th holes.

"The GIR (greens in regulations) was no good, which is always my weakest point. But I can make some good putts," said the 28-year-old veteran.

"I changed my swing last year, now I have settled down a little bit. It is still work in progress but I am definitely better than last year. I wouldn't think about the technical part now, just play my game in a simple way again."

Pavarisa, runner-up on last year's Thai LPGA Tour money list, looked as if she was going to be the clubhouse leader after shooting consecutive birdies starting at the 16th hole to get to two-under. However, she gave it all back in a poor final hole when she carded a double-bogey seven to fall even with Chen.

The Nakhon Si Thammarat native said after an errant second shot her third shot plugged into the ground and was unplayable. After taking relief, she chipped her fifth shot on the green and then two-putted to end the ordeal.

"(Even par) I think it's okay with this weather, you know windy and little bit rain," said the 21-year-old, winner of the 2014 Wuhan Challenge.

With more wet weather forecast Pavarisa predicted that five-under would be enough for a winning score. "It depends on the weather. If it is like this, no more than five-under."

National team member Zhang called the whole day torture for the entire field as the rain and windy conditions ensured that there was no room to be slack. It was the second consecutive week of rain for many of the players in the field after the weather delays at last week's World Ladies Championship in Dongguan.

"You should be highly focused on every shot in such tough conditions. The only good thing is higher temperature than last week, therefore I had a good putting feel. I had three straight birdies at the turn. I made a tap-in birdie at the 18th hole and then converted a 15-footer and a 27-footer," said the 25-year-old Guangdong native.

"Who knows tomorrow? If the weather report is accurate, it will be sunny. You definitely should take advantage of it when you are in better conditions. If not, par will be a good score. You could win this with one or two under."

Zhuhai Hengqin Phoenix Tree Building Challenge first round leading scores (China unless stated; * denotes amateur):

72 - Chen Liqin, Pavarisa Yoktuan (Thailand)

73 - Zhang Yuyang, Saraporn Chamchoi (Thailand), Lee Ye-seul (South Korea), Zhang Weiwei

74 - Ji Yifan*, Thanuttra Boonraksasat (Thailand), Lin Tzu-chi (Chinese Taipei), Anais Maggetti (Switzerland), Shi Yuting

75 - Pan Yanghong, Chung Ye-na (South Korea), Du Mohan*, Nattagate Nimitpongkul (Thailand), Sun Min-jae (South Korea)

76 - Titiya Plucksataporn (Thailand), Wannasiri Sirisampant (Thailand), Okamura Yu (Japan), Sui Xiang*, Jang So-young (South Korea), Prima Thammaraks (Thailand), Joo Ga-eun (South Korea)

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