American Sarah Schmelzel takes early lead at HSBC Women's World Championship, where scores were unusually high

SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE – FEBRUARY 29: Sarah Schmelzel of the United States interacts with her caddie on the ninth hole during Day One of the HSBC Women’s World Championship at Sentosa Golf Club on February 29, 2024 in Singapore. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

American Sarah Schmelzel, the 107th-ranked player in the world, finds herself in a new position after Round 1 in Singapore: the top.

Schmelzel’s opening 4-under 68 puts her in front by one at the HSBC Women’s World Championship at Sentosa Golf Club. The only previous time Schmelzel has slept on a lead at an LPGA event was at the Dow Championship with teammate Maude-Aimee Leblanc in 2022.

Schmelzel, who was a rookie in 2019, played collegiate golf at the University of South Carolina. Over the offseason, she began working with swing instructor Chris Mayson, who helps a number of players on tour including Alison Lee.

Mayson said earlier this year that Schmelzel had picked up a club and a half of distance in a month’s time by using her body more.

“She’s very athletic,” he told Golfweek, “wasn’t really using her athleticism at all.”

Schmelzel made the turn at 1 over but turned things around on the front (her second nine) with a bogey-free 31.

“I think the conditions were pretty tough today,” she said of the wind that gusted up to 22 mph. “It was windy and the greens were firm and fast. So just getting my feet under me a little bit.

“Just a little bit of self-confidence knowing that I can make birdies and just kept telling myself that and tried to stay patient. Fortunately, I was able to roll in on one when I made the turn and that just opened the floodgates a little bit.”

Linn Grant of Sweden walks from the 8th green during Day One of the HSBC Women’s World Championship at Sentosa Golf Club on February 29, 2024 in Singapore. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

World No. 1 Lilia Vu trails by one at 3 under along with Linn Grant and Esther Henseleit. Three-time major winner In Gee Chun sits two back in a group of five players at 2 under.

Jin Young Ko, who has won the past two editions of the HSBC, opened with a 71.

Alison Lee, the hottest player in golf to end the 2023 season, got off to a shaky start in her first round of 2024. Lee, one of three players who shot 79, suffered a dog bite earlier this year that left her hospitalized and delayed her start.

Scores were high at Sentosa, where more than half the field failed to break par. In fact, 10 players shot 77 or higher. The Round 1 scoring average was 73.333, more than three strokes higher than last week’s opening round average in Thailand.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: American Sarah Schmelzel takes early lead at HSBC Women’s World Championship, where scores were unusually high