Ariya Jutanugarn leads Reignwood LPGA Classic in China

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 6:30 p.m. ET

foxsports

BEIJING (AP) Ariya Jutanugarn birdied the final four holes for an 8-under 65 and a one-stroke lead over Brooke Henderson on Thursday in the Reignwood LPGA Classic.

In position to take the No. 1 spot in the world from idle Lydia Ko with a ninth-place finish or better, Jutanugarn had 10 birdies and two bogeys at Reignwood Pine Valley Golf Club in the first event in the six-tournament Asian Swing.

The 20-year-old Thai player is No. 2 in the world now and leads the LPGA Tour with five victories, winning the Women's British Open in July for her first major title.

The fourth-ranked Henderson birdied three of the final four holes in a bogey-free round. The 19-year-old Canadian won the major KPMG Women's PGA in June for the first of her two victories this season.

Americans Lizette Salas and Jennifer Song shot 68, and Australia's Sarah Jane Smith and South Koreans Amy Yang, Mi Jung Hur and Ilhee Lee followed at 69.

Chinese star Shanshan Fengtopped the group at 70. The bronze medalist in the Rio Olympics, she won the inaugural Reignwood LPGA in 2013 at 26 under.

South Korea's Mirim Lee had a 72. She won in 2014, the last time the event was played.