BANGKOK, 26 Feb 2015 (AFP) - It might have been even better than six under, 66, for the Taiwanese golfer, but for a dropped shot on the final hole that tarnished an otherwise perfect round at the Siam Country Club.
Nonetheless it left Tseng -- who won in Thailand in 2011 and 2012 -- in the unfamiliar territory of leading after the first round in a tournament for the first time in three years.
World number three Lewis came out blazing, notching an eagle on the par five first, followed by five birdies to go round the front nine in a stunning 29.
But she drifted in the back nine, dropping two shots to finish on 66.
Compatriot Lang had an indifferent start to the day, bogeying on six before rattling off five birdies in a row and eight in total to the leaders back at the clubhouse.
The trio are just a shot ahead of a strong field boasting four top 10 players.
Home favourite Ariya Jutanugarn, who was edged into second place in a nailbiting 2013 edition, was among six poised a shot behind on 67, including world number six Suzann Pettersen, who hit an error-free six under par.
World number two Inbee Park finished on a two under 70 for the day, after an error-strewn round which saw her drop four shots.
Leading first-round scores from the $1.5 million Honda LPGA Thailand on Thursday at the Siam Country Club:
66 - Tseng Yani (TPE), Brittany Lang (USA), Stacy Lewis (USA)
67 - Ariya Jutanugarn (THA), Lee Mi-Rim (KOR), Suzann Pettersen (NOR), Lizette Salas (USA), Budsabakorn Sukapan (THA), Amy Yang (KOR)
68 - Mo Martin (USA), Cristie Kerr (USA), Caroline Hedwall (SWE), Lexi Thompson (USA)
69 - Mika Miyazato (JPN), Azahara Munoz (ESP), Christina Kim (USA)
70 - Julieta Granada (PAR), Kim Sei-Young (KOR), Moriya Jutanugarn (THA), Park Hee-Young (KOR), Caroline Mason (GER), Jenny Shin (KOR), Jessica Korda (USA), Paula Creamer (USA), Inbee Park (KOR), Feng Shanshan (CHN)