NEW YORK (AFP) – Dottie Ardina mixed five birdies against a lone bogey to open her campaign in the Shoprite LPGA Classic with a 67, four shots behind newly crowned US Women’s Open champion Lee Jeong-eun Friday.

The five-foot-one Filipina, who turned pro four years ago, is in joint 15th including American Paula Creamer.

Lee, the weary South Korean rookie, who has spent this week fielding calls of congratulations after her Open triumph in Charleston on Sunday, surged to the top of the leaderboard alongside Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum.

A wild opening round at the Seaview Golf Club in Galloway, New Jersey saw Lee notch an eagle and nine birdies. Three bogeys prevented her from going even lower.

Lee said she was still riding the momentum which carried her to the US Women’s Open last week.

“I did pretty good in last week’s tournament, and so I feel pretty confident,” she said. “Now I feel like I want to play well in the rest of the tournaments.

“I felt really pretty relaxed on the course. I just played it just like how I played it last week.’’

The highlight of Lee’s round was a sensational eagle three at the par five third hole, her 12th hole of the day, which took her to six under. Back-to-back birdies on the closing two holes handed her a share of the lead.

Tags: Dottie Ardina , LPGA , LPGA Classic , Paula Creamer , Pornanong Phatlum