Golf-Park Inbee lights up Sentosa with sparkling 64 for LPGA lead

FILE PHOTO: Apr 3, 2021; Rancho Mirage, California, USA; Inbee Park tees off on the third hole during the third round of the ANA Inspiration golf tournament at Mission Hills Country Club. Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

(Reuters) - Former world number one Inbee Park hit a flawless eight-under-par 64 to take a one-stroke lead after the opening round of the HSBC Women's World Championship on Thursday as the LPGA returned to Asia for the first time in 18 months.

The seven-times major winner, bidding for a third win in the tournament after 2015 and 2017 triumphs, snared eight birdies in sweltering conditions at Singapore's Sentosa course to top the leaderboard ahead of fellow South Korean Park Hee-young (65).