Teenage amateur golfer Rachel Lee tied for the lead in the Australian Open women's field
![Australia's Cam Smith lines up his putt on the ninth...](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.newsday.com%2Fimage-service%2Fversion%2Fc%3ANmIyOTgzMDQtOWI5Ni00%3ANmZiMzUz%2Faustralian-open-golf.jpeg%3Ff%3DLandscape%2B16%253A9%26w%3D770%26q%3D1&w=1920&q=80)
Australia's Cam Smith lines up his putt on the ninth hole during the first round of the Australian Open Golf Championship in Sydney, Australia, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. Credit: AP/Mark Baker
SYDNEY — Teenage amateur Rachel Lee was almost late to the first tee but finished the first round of the Australian Open in a tie for the lead with American Jenny Shin.
The 16-year-old Lee had to hurry to start her round Thursday after getting the times confused, and she carried momentum to a 6-under 67 at The Lakes Golf Club in a tournament that has men’s and women’s fields and a two-venue format.
“I was putting and my coach says, ‘Rachel, you’re on the tee,’” Lee, who attends a Sydney high school, explained. “So I just ran out there. I’ve learned my lesson.”
Jenny Shin was also 6 under after a 66 at The Australian Golf Club. The pair had a one shot lead over two-time major winner Jiyai Shin of South Korea.
Ashleigh Buhai of South Africa and local Stephanie Kyriacou were in fourth place at 4 under.
Cameron Davis led the men’s field by a stroke at 9 under after an opening 63 at The Lakes. The 2017 champion had an eagle at the par-5 14th and seven birdies to finish one ahead of American Patrick Rodgers.
Scotland's Connor Syme was equal third at 7 under after an opening 64 at The Australian.
![Australia's Min Woo Lee lines up his putt on the...](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.newsday.com%2Fimage-service%2Fversion%2Fc%3AZGZiNDYzMGQtZjZhNi00%3AYTU4MWYz%2Faustralian-open-golf.jpeg%3Ff%3DLandscape%2B16%253A9%26w%3D768%26q%3D1&w=1920&q=80)
Australia's Min Woo Lee lines up his putt on the ninth hole during the first round of the Australian Open Golf Championship in Sydney, Australia, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. Credit: AP/Mark Baker
All but two of the leading 10 players in the men's field had their first rounds at The Lakes, including Min Woo Lee, who was 5-under just four days after winning the Australian PGA Championship title in Brisbane last Sunday.
His older sister, two-time major winner Minjee Lee, was in a three-way tie for sixth in the women's field at 3 under.
Cameron Smith, who missed the cut in his attempted title defense at the Australian PGA last week, was in a group of 20 players at 1 under after opening with a 71 at The Lakes.
"There’s definitely something to build on there,” he said.
![Japan's Yuto Katsuragawa, left, reacts with Ireland's Connor Purcell on...](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.newsday.com%2Fimage-service%2Fversion%2Fc%3AZDcwYWU2OWEtODJjMS00%3AM2FlN2Fk%2Faustralian-open-golf.jpeg%3Ff%3DLandscape%2B16%253A9%26w%3D768%26q%3D1&w=1920&q=80)
Japan's Yuto Katsuragawa, left, reacts with Ireland's Connor Purcell on the 18th green during the first round of the Australian Open Golf Championship in Sydney, Australia, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. Credit: AP/Mark Baker
Adam Scott had two birdies and two bogeys in an opening, even-par 71 at The Australian and was among a big group of players nine shots off the pace.