Ilhee Lee Out in Front at Australian Women's Open


Ilhee Lee opened with a 5-under 68 to take the 18-hole lead in the Women's Australian Open. The $1.2 million event began Thursday at Royal Melbourne Golf Club.

The 26-year-old Lee, who earned her only LPGA Tour victory in the 2013 Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Clascci, carded five birdies and no bogeys for a one-stroke lead over Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn and two over fellow South Korean Min-seo Kwak, New Zealand's Lydia Ko and Canada's Alena Sharp.

"It's good to see how improved my golf is this year because I was here in 2012, [and] how I see the golf course at that time and now is totally different," Lee told reporters.

"I see the right thing first, I see how I manage the golf course better and then my drive's better than then and swing's got better, putting's better, everything's much better than that time."

Six players- South Korean Ha Na Jang, England's Charley Hull and Melissa Reid, France's Gwladys Nocera, Chile's Paz Echeverria and American Brooke Pancake - posted 71s.

Defending champion Karrie Webb had a 73, and 2012 winner, Jessica Korda, a 72.

No. 1-ranked Ko's 70 was highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 14th. "I tried to stay patient," the 17-year-old said. "I didn't hole that many putts but I didn't make that many mistakes, either, so that's important."

For all the scores, visit www.lpga.com.