Ashleigh Buhai opened the first women’s major championship of the year with a one-under-par 71 on Thursday to be in a share of 23^rd after the first round of the Chevron Championship at The Woodlands, Texas.

Her four birdies, a bogey and a double-bogey left her six shots off the lead which was held at five-under-par by Taiwan’s Peiyun Chien at five-under. Chen led by one from six players on four-under. They were Korean Chella Choi, Japan’s Ayake Furue, Stephanie Kyriacou of Australia and Americans Nelly Korda, Lilia Vu and Marina Alex. Buhai shared 23^rd with 13 other players, including world number one Lydia Ko of New Zealand.

Paula Reto battled to a 10-over-par 82 to be dead last in a share of 131^st.