Manila, Feb 21 (PTI) Teen Indian golfer Avani Prashanth shared the top spot in individual standings after carding a four-under 68 in the opening round of Queen Sirikit Cup here on Tuesday.

The 16-year-old Indian shared the lead with New Zealand's Fiona Xu and Rianne Malixi of the Philippines at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Masters Course.

Also Read | NBA All Star Game 2023: Basketball Player Giannis Antetokounmpo Is Glad Ranveer Singh Played for His Team.

Prashanth had five birdies against a solitary bogey, while Xu snared six birdies but dropped shots at 13 and 16.

The other two Indians in the competition are Vidhatri Urs (74) and Nishna Patel (80).

Also Read | JioCinema to Provide IPL 2023 Free Live Streaming Online in 4k.

As a team India were tied sixth.

Meanwhile, a new-look Korean team overcame early nerves to claim opening-day honours.

With Seo Kyu-rim carding a 69 and Yoo Hyun-jo contributing a 70, Korea soared to the top of the leaderboard at the Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club.

With the two best daily scores in each three-strong team counting in the 12-nation Asia-Pacific Amateur Ladies Golf Team Championship, Kim Min-sol's 73 was not required.

On a day of impressive scoring over the Jack Nicklaus-designed Masters Course, New Zealand's Fiona Xu, Indian Avani Prashanth and Rianne Malixi of the Philippines – all scored 68.

While Fiona Xu, Avani and Malixi -- three of the Asia-Pacific's brightest golfing prospects -- shared the lead, nine other players bettered par, including Japan's Yuna Araki, fifth in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.

Araki's two-under 70 was one better than compatriot Mizuki Hashimoto and Chinese-Taipei's Tiffany Huang Ting-hsuan, the past two winners of the Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific.

Hashimoto was also the leading individual at last year's Queen Sirikit Cup in Singapore, helping Japan to end a 20-year victory drought in the event.

With a five-under aggregate of 139, Korea heads into the second day with a one-stroke lead from New Zealand and Thailand. Hong Kong, China and defending champions Japan are a further stroke back in joint fourth.

They are followed by India and the Philippines (142), China and Indonesia (145), and Chinese Taipei, Malaysia and Singapore (147).

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)