Minjee Lee starts poorly at China golf

Australian golfers Katherine Kirk and Su Oh are four shots off the lead after the opening round of the Buick LPGA Shanghai, but Minjee Lee has struggled with a two-over-par 74.

Kirk and Oh are tied 17th after shooting one-under rounds of 71, but Lee has had to settle for a share of 45th at Qizhong Garden Golf Club in China.

Japan's Nasa Hataoka and South Korean Amy Kang share the lead on five-under 67, a shot ahead of American duo Jessica Korda and Angel Yin.

English trio, Bronte Law, Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Mel Reid, lie two shots off the lead in a seven-way tie for fifth, also comprising New Zealand's Lydia Ko, Danielle Kang, Brooke Henderson and Jennifer Kupcho.

Law carded four birdies and a bogey, while Solheim Cup teammate Ewart Shadoff recovered from a double bogey on the fourth with the aid of an eagle and three birdies in her last five holes.

Reid, a vice-captain for Europe's dramatic triumph in September at Gleneagles, fired five birdies and two bogeys in a three-under 69.

Former Women's British Open champion Georgia Hall is four shots off the pace after a 71.