Shi takes early lead at China National Golf Championship

A birdie on her final hole proved the difference for Shi Yuli on Friday as the Beijing veteran carded a four-under 68 to take a one-stroke lead during first-round play of the 17th edition of the Women's China Open.

Playing on the links-style Yangtze Dunes layout at PGA Anying Golf Club on Shanghai's Chongming Island, veterans Cai Danlin and Sui Xiang were one shot back at the 1 million yuan ($149,400) CLPG Tour event as each carded rounds of three-under 69 in the sunny and warm conditions.

Ren Yijia, the CLPG Tour points ranking leader, was two shots off the pace after a 70, tied for equal fourth with Chen Yulin and Thailand's Ornnicha Konsunthea. China's top amateur Liu Yuji, the World No. 16, was a shot further back in a group of eight players on one-under 71.

Shi, who captured her maiden win last year at the season-ending CLPG Tour Championship, got off to a strong start when she made birdie at her first hole, the 423-yard 10th hole, after beginning her round on the Yangtze Dunes' back nine. She would be in and around the lead throughout her afternoon round in carding five more birdies and two bogeys.

"I felt pretty good today. My driver was very consistent, and my approach shots were generally quite close to the pin, which gave me plenty of birdie opportunities. Two of my birdies came from putts of about a yard and a half," said Shi, the inaugural winner of last year's CLPG Tour points ranking.

"The course is playing at 6,704 yards this year, so the extra distance could make things a little more challenging for me. I'll probably need to use my long irons more often. I played pretty well here the last two times so I'm looking forward to the week. The China Women's Open is a national-level championship, so winning a tournament of this stature would mean a lot to me."

Sui, who ended a three-year winless streak in June when she won the Moutai Singapore Ladies Masters, also started her early morning round from the back nine with a birdie on her opening hole. Following eight straight pars, the Guangdong veteran would make an eagle two at her 10th hole, the 364-yard first hole, when she chipped in from 101 yards out. She would get to four-under with a birdie at the next before dropping her only shot of the day at her 13th hole, the 359-yard fourth hole.

"That (eagle) was a pleasant surprise. I made another birdie after that, so overall I felt pretty good about my round," said Sui who is playing while recovering from a back injury.

"I stayed calm today and didn't feel rushed. Even on the longer, more challenging holes, I was patient and managed them well. My long irons and hybrid also worked pretty well. There may be more wind tomorrow so I don't expect to change my overall strategy too much. I'll be a little more cautious when it comes to attacking the pins."

Cai, who has struggled this season in making only three cuts in eight starts, carded her low round of the year in posting four birdies and a lone bogey at the 159-yard 14th hole.

"I made a bogey on the 14th, but I didn't get discouraged and stayed focused on the holes ahead," said the Hainan native. "On the 17th, I was only hoping to get my 12-yard putt close to the hole. I was surprised when it went in. I definitely got a bit lucky there. I also had a birdie opportunity on the last hole, but unfortunately, I couldn't make the putt from around four yards."

Ren, the CLPG Tour points ranking leader, started her early morning round from the back nine and got to two-under quickly with birdies at her second and third holes, holes 11 and 12. She then held steady to post 15 consecutive pars in her bogey-free round.

"I played well today. I hit a high percentage of fairways, and both my long game and short game were pretty solid," said the 17-year-old rookie pro from Dalian, a three-time winner this year. "The only disappointing part was that I missed a few short putts from around two to three yards."