Los Angeles, United States: Australian Caitlin Peirce defied jet-lag and fatigue to make an impressive start to the 123rd US Women’s Amateur.

Some 48 hours after departing Spain where she’d represented the Asia-Pacific in the Patsy Hankins Trophy, Peirce was teeing-off at Bel-Air Country Club.

Following a shaky start that saw her record three bogeys in her opening five holes, Peirce recovered commendably to sign for a two-over-par 72.

That left her in a share of 57th place heading into round two after which the low 64 scorers will advance to match play. If a play-off is necessary to determine the last match play spots, it is scheduled to take place on Tuesday evening.

At the end of day one, Peirce was one of seven members of the Asia-Pacific contingent to be inside the cut-line.

Leading the way for the region was Thailand’s big-hitting Thanana Kotchasanmanee who posted a one-under 69, one of only 18 players in the 156-strong starting line-up to better par.

Taking advantage of her length off the tee, Thanana was four-under on the three par-fives. As well as birdies at the first and 14th, she snared an eagle-three at the 501-yard eighth.

One shot further back in equal 19th are Japan’s Rin Yoshida and Rianne Malixi of the Philippines.

Malixi, runner-up in last month’s US Junior Girls Championship, made a fast start with birdies at the first two holes. Playing solid golf, the only blemishes on her card came at the 12th and 13th.

Chinese Taipei’s Chen Ching-tzu is tied 38th after a 71 while Japan’s Minori Nagano and Hong Kong China’s Arianna Lau, the 2023 Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation Junior Girls Championship winner, are alongside Peirce on 72.

Just one stroke outside the cut-line are Malaysian Jeneath Wong, Chinese Taipei’s Liao Hsin-chun and China’s Li Jieni.

There was an admirable effort, too, from Australian Sue Wooster, at 61 the eldest player in the field.

A member of the triumphant Australian team at last year’s inaugural APGC Women’s Senior Championship, Wooster signed for a 74.

Sharing the lead on four-under are Americans Carolines Canales, a rising junior at UCLA who was recently named to the All-Pac-12 First Team after an impressive sophomore season, and Briana Chacon.