WATERLOO, June 5, 2014 (AFP) - Wie and South Korean Park Hee-Young finished 18 holes one stroke ahead of China's Feng Shanshan with American Cristie Kerr and China's Lin Xi Yu another stroke adrift.
Making her 12th start of the season, Wie sizzled early with birdies at the par-3 third, par-5 sixth and par-4 seventh.
She closed the front nine with a bogey but answered with a birdie at 11 and closed with birdies on three of the last four holes, the final one from 12 feet after reaching 15 of 18 greens in regulation.
Park began a bogey-free stroll on the 10th tee and birdied the 11th, then had back-to-back birdies at the par-5 18th and par-4 first, added another at the third hole and matched Wie's birdies as six and seven as well.
Feng fired a birdie-free round as well, running off three birdies in a row at the par-5 fifth and sixth and seven, another birdie at 14 and she closed with a birdie to stand one off the lead.
Leading scores on Thursday after the first round of the LPGA Manulife Financial Classic (par 71, USA unless noted):
65 - Michelle Wie, Park Hee-Young (KOR)
66 - Feng Shanshan (CHN)
67 - Lin Xi Yu (CHN), Cristie Kerr
68 - Haru Nomura (JPN), Moira Dunn, Lee Jee-Young (KOR), Kristy McPherson, Ryu So-Yeon (KOR), Marina Alex, Alejandra Llaneza (MEX), Jacqui Concolino, Choi Na-Yeon (KOR), Sarah Kemp (AUS), Belen Mozo (ESP), Paz Echeverria (CHI)
69 - Stacy Lewis, Austin Ernst, Vicky Hurst, Kris Tamulis, Jennifer Rosales (PHI), Karine Icher (FRA), Dewi Claire Schreefel (NED), Caroline Masson (GER), Sarah Jane Smith (AUS), Anna Nordqvist (SWE), Park In-Bee (KOR), Mirim Lee (KOR), Line Vedel (DEN), I.K. Kim (KOR), Lee Il-Hee (KOR), Ayako Uehara (JPN)