KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — In her debut season on the LPGA Tour, rookie Mao Saigo delivered an impressive performance, carding a 9-under-par 63 on Thursday. This remarkable feat allowed her to secure a one-stroke lead following the opening round of the Maybank Championship.

Trailing just behind is South Korea’s Haeran Ryu, who finished the day one stroke off the pace. Two other competitors find themselves tied for third, positioned two strokes back of Saigo at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.

Celine Boutier, the reigning champion, has been showcasing her skills during this segment of the tour, with notable finishes including a tie for ninth in Shanghai two weeks ago and a second-place finish in South Korea last week. She started strong, achieving a score of 67 on Thursday, placing her in a tie for 11th place.

Last year’s contest proved memorable for Boutier, as she and Jeeno Thitikul ended regulation play tied at 21-under par. The two players engaged in a thrilling nine-hole playoff, which Boutier ultimately won. This playoff was noteworthy, as it stands among the second-longest playoff battles in LPGA Tour history.

Brooke Henderson recorded a solid 69 during Thursday’s round. Meanwhile, Hannah Green, who celebrated her third victory of the year and sixth overall last week in South Korea, managed a score of 71. Lilia Vu concluded the round with a score of 74.