ROOKIE professional Lydia Ko, who won the Canadian Women’s Open as a 16-year-old amateur last August, shot a 5-under-par 68 Thursday to share the first-round lead with Meena Lee at the season-opening Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic.

Stacy Lewis, the top-ranked player in the field at No 3, was among nine players tied a stroke back on the 6,644-yard, par-73 Ocean Club Golf Course layout

“I just tried to play my own game and be relaxed,” said Ko. “I got off to a shaky start and I needed to make a 4-footer for par, but when I made birdie at No 2 I was able to relax. I was actually shocked that I wasn’t nervous. I felt I even played better than my score. I gave myself a lot of opportunities.”

Play continues today. See Sports Section for more.