Stephanie Meadow eight adrift after LPGA Shanghai opening round

Maja Stark and Wichanee Meechai each shot rounds of 66 to lead the Buick LPGA Shanghai on Thursday, with Ireland's Stephanie Meadow eight shots adrift of the leaders.

The event is taking place for the first time in three years following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Meadow's round of 74 contained two birdies and an eagle, but the see-saw nature of it also saw her hit a double-bogey six on the eight, as well as four bogeys.

ROUND 1 LEADERBOARD

Sitting two shots back from thr lead at the Qizhong Garden Golf Club are 10 players on four-under 68. The group includes Danielle Kang, the defending champion following back-to-back wins in 2018 and 2019, and home-country favorites Yu Liu, Danlin Cai and Shuying Li.

For Stark, a Swede, and Thailand's Meechai, the opening day provided a new experience. It was the first time either has held a first-round lead in an LPGA event, and they got there in different ways.

Stark scattered six birdies throughout the bogey-free round. Meechai, making her debut in the tournament, started on the back nine and was at even-par through the first six holes until 17 when she finished with an eagle on the par-five hole. She repeated the feat on the par-14 18th.

On the front side, she mixed four birdies and two bogeys.

Additional reporting: Reuters