Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul surged to the top of the leaderboard after the opening round of the Women’s PGA Championship, carding a four-under-par 68 at Fields Ranch East in Texas.

The 22-year-old world number two overcame a double bogey on the fifth hole with six birdies, showing composure and precision to grab a one-shot lead over Australia’s Minjee Lee, who posted a 69 marked by seven birdies and four bogeys.

“It’s a major, so you’ve got to expect mistakes,” said Thitikul. “I just focused on the next shot. Making birdies on seven, eight, and nine gave me a good rhythm heading into the back nine.”

The heat was a challenge for many players, with temperatures soaring throughout the day. “I just kept asking my caddie for more water,” said Lee. “It was brutally hot.” World number one Nelly Korda echoed the sentiment, saying she was “still cooling down” after a level-par 72.

Japan’s Risa Takeda (-2), South Korea’s Hyo Joo Ryu (-2), Yealimi Noh of the U.S. (-2), and South Korea’s Seon Woo Lee (-2) rounded out the group tied for third.

Ireland’s Leona Maguire, American Lexi Thompson, and Korda all finished at even par, while England’s Georgia Hall slipped to +1 and New Zealand’s Lydia Ko struggled to a +3. England’s Mimi Rhodes, making her major debut after three LET wins this season, ended the day with a 76 (+4).