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Chanettee Wannasaen smiles after a good shot during the LPGA Classic on June 12. <\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\nChanettee Wannasaen is tied atop the leaderboard of her home-country tournament with Japan’s Nasa Hataoka after the opening round of the Honda LPGA Thailand on Thursday in Pattaya, Thailand.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Wannasaen was effective throughout a 7-under-par 65 opening round, racking up nine birdies against two bogeys. She finished with a birdie on the par-5 18th and hit 17 of 18 greens in regulation at the Siam Country Club Old Course.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n “Today, I played really well on the approach shot,” Wannasaen said. ” … It’s pretty fun and I have a lot of memory in this course.”<\/p>\n<\/section>\n After a bogey on the par-4 2nd hole, Hataoka played bogey-free over the final 16 holes. That included three birdies in the final five holes, overcoming making just 14 of 18 greens in regulation by requiring just 26 putts.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n It’s the second time in as many LPGA events this season that Hataoka has had at least a share of the first-round lead. She led after the opening round of the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions in late January at 6 under.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n “Today was a good start,” Hataoka said. “I think my tee shot and iron shot pretty well today. That’s why I was able to make so many birdie chances today.”<\/p>\n<\/section>\n <\/p>\n There’s little separation between a large pack at the top of the leaderboard. South Korea’s Somi Lee and Hye-Jin Choi as well as Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh are tied for third at 6 under. Dryburgh holed out for an eagle on the par-5 10th — her first hole in her first LPGA event back after becoming a mother seven weeks ago.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n After that, 10 players are tied for sixth at 5 under. That clump of competitors shooting 67 includes world No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand, who is competing on her home course.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n First playing in this event at 14 years old and now on the eve of her 23rd birthday, Thitikul was bogey free at 5 under, securing a pair of sand saves.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n “Just grateful for everything that I really put the work in and it just pay off,” Thitikul said, reflecting on her career after the first round. “And then also I think they should be happy on not just me doing, but all the Thai girls doing out there on the Tour.”<\/p>\n<\/section>\n There are eight Thai golfers competing in this year’s event. Ariya Jutanugarn is also tied at 5 under, and Pajaree Anannarukarn is one of 10 golfers tied for 16th at 4 under. After shooting 1 over on the front nine, Anannarukarn surged back into contention with five birdies on a bogey-free back nine.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n