PARADISE ISLAND, January 23, 2014 (AFP) - The 16-year-old South Korean-born New Zealander had six birdies and one bogey in a five-under par 68 that put her tied atop the leaderboard with South Korean Meena Lee in the $1.3 million season-opening event.
Lee's round included an eagle two at the par-four 13th hole, along with four birdies on the Ocean Club course.
The leading duo was one stroke in front of a group of 10 players that included American Stacy Lewis, Thailand's P.K. Kongkraphan, Taiwan's Candie Kung and South Koreans Park Hee-Young and Mirim Lee.
Ko turned professional last year after a stellar amateur career during which she won four professional tournaments.
She won her first title as a pro in Taiwan in December, but is making her first start this week as a member of the LPGA Tour.
Her precocious achievements persuaded LPGA Tour Michael Whan to waive the tour's usual requirement that a player be 18 years old to qualify for membership.
Leading first-round scores on Thursday in the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic (USA unless noted):
68 - Lydia Ko (NZL), Meena Lee (KOR)
69 - Jessica Korda, Park Hee-Young (KOR), Mirim Lee (KOR), Danah Bordner, Amelia Lewis, P.K. Kongkraphan (THA), Brittany Lang, Stacy Lewis, Austin Ernst, Candie Kung (TPE)
70 - Cindy LaCrosse, Morgan Pressel, Thidapa Suwannapura (THA), Brittany Lincicome, Pernilla Lindberg (SWE), Azahara Munoz (ESP), Jennifer Song, Paz Echeverria (CHI), Choi Na-Yeon (KOR), Mo Martin, Becky Morgan (WAL)
71 - Jaye Marie Green, Gerina Piller, Amy Yang (KOR), Paula Creamer, Pornanong Phatlum (THA), Jenny Suh, Sandra Gal (GER), Christel Boeljon (NED), Sandra Changkija