TAIPEI, 30 Oct, 2014 (AFP) - Park, who took over the top spot in the Rolex Rankings earlier this week, hit all 14 fairways and needed only 26 putts to complete her round with eight birdies for the $2 million tournament at the par-72 Miramar Golf Country Club.
"I hit the ball really solid all day, and on the back nine, everything seemed to drop," Park said. "I can't remember the last time I putted like this. It’s been a really good putting day, so I’m really happy about that."
Feng also played a bogey-free round, scoring six birdies and an eagle to hold a two-shot advantage over a group of four players.
"I started the round, kind of like a smooth start. And then made a birdie and then I made an eagle on the sixth hole, which really got it started. Then after that, I was just making putts and my iron game was just as good as normal," she said.
Taiwanese amateur Cheng Ssu-chia had an impressive start to tie in the third place with South Korean Ryu So-Yeon, Denmark's Line Vedel and Japan's Haru Nomura with six-under-par 66.
The 17-year-old stayed ahead other Taiwanese players competing in the tournament, including former world number one Tseng Yani, who tied in the 15th place after carding a 69.
"The score I shot today is much better than I expected. I think it’s mostly because I tried not to over-think too much," said Cheng, who scored six birdies, including three on the last four holes, in a bogey-free round.
Defending champion Suzann Pettersen of Norway posted a 70 to tie in 21st place with 13 players.
Leading scores after round 1 of the Fubon LPGA Taiwan Championship in Taipei on Thursday.
64 - Feng Shanshan (CHN), Park In-bee (KOR)
66 - Nomura Haru (JPN), Cheng Ssu-Chia (TPE), Ryu So-Yeon (KOR), Vedel Line (DNK)
67 - Ji Eun-Hee (KOR), Kim I.K. (KOR), Stacy Lewis (USA)
68 - Choi Na-Yeon (KOR), Laura Diaz (USA), Lee Mi-Hyang (KOR), Azahara Munoz (ESP), Michelle Wie (USA)
69 - Pernilla Lindberg (SWE), Moriya Jutanugarn (THA), Candie Kung (TPE), Lee Ilhee (KOR), Lydia Ko (NZL), Tseng Yani (TPE)