LPGA: Shanshan Feng holds early lead at U.S. Women's Open

BEDMINSTER, N.J. -- Shanshan Feng of China set a blistering pace Thursday morning to kick off the 72nd edition of United States Women's Open Championship.

Feng fired a 6-under par 66 over the Old Course at Trump National Golf Club in hot, humid conditions to take a one-shot lead midway through the opening round.

Amy Yang from South Korea sits alone in second place after shooting a 5-under par 67. Lydia Ko of New Zealand is another shot back after a 68 and shares third place with So Yeon Ryu from South Korea, who won this championship in 2011.

American Cristie Kerr, who won the Women's Open 10 years ago, is at 69 along with South Koreans Minjee Lee, Sei Young Kim, and amateur Hye-Jin Choi.

Feng, who is presently ranked sixth in the world, was paired with Ko and Inbee Park from South Korea in a group that featured the three medalists from the 2016 Olympics; Park took the gold medal, Ko the silver, and Feng the bronze. The group teed off at 7:18 a.m. and avoided the worst of oppressive heat and humidity. The Old Course played to 6,668 yards with a par of 72.

Starting on the back nine, Feng opened with a par before rolling in a 20-foot birdie putt at the 11th. She went on to birdie the 12th and 13th and eventually made the turn in 5-under par 31. She birdied the first hole, her 10th before finishing her round with eight consecutive pars.

The 27-year old Feng is trying for her eighth LPGA win and her second major championship. Her last LPGA victory came in Ann Arbor, Mich. in May. Her previous major win came in 2012 in what was then the LPGA Championship.