Ariya, Uribe tied for Canadian Open lead

Co-leader Ariya Jutanugarn (centre) walks to the 16th tee with Thursday playing partners Jessica Korda of the United States (left) and In Gee Chun of Korea. (AFP photo)

REGINA, Saskatchewan: Ariya Jutanugarn, fighting to get her world No.1 ranking back, and Colombia's Mariajo Uribe set the early pace at the Canadian Women's Open on Thursday, storming into the lead after carding eight-under-par 64s.

World number two Ariya, who bagged the second major of her career with victory at the US Women's Open in June, drained nine birdies and only one bogey to grab her share of the lead.

Uribe, ranked 173rd in the world, produced a flawless round with eight birdies and 10 pars to make a superb start at Wascana Country Club in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Pornanong "Waen" Phatlum, who finished second at the British Women's Open last month, is the next Thai in the Canadian standings, five strokes behind Ariya and Uribe.

Ariya made a blistering start after teeing off on the 10th, reeling off four consecutive birdies to drop to four under.

She dropped a shot on her seventh hole of the day but then unleashed another birdie blitz on her inward nine, with five more birdies to finish on eight under.

The 22-year-old from Bangkok credited a relaxed approach for her low-scoring round, which equalled the course record at Wascana.

"I feel I've been playing pretty good for the last few weeks and I didn't finish the way that I wanted," Ariya said.

"Today my goal is just like don't worry about the future too much. Don't think about what I'm going to shoot today. Just try to focus on things I can control."

Uribe meanwhile said she had been determined to exploit benign weather conditions which are expected to give way to strong winds in Friday's second round.

"I took advantage of that good weather we had this morning," Uribe said. "No wind; a little cold, but nothing crazy.

It's nice to get it done and actually take advantage of the great weather we had, because tomorrow seems like it's going to be windy."

Ariya and Uribe were two strokes clear of three players tied for third on six under -- New Zealand's Lydia Ko, Minjee Lee of Australia and Jessica Korda of the United States.

Three more players were in the clubhouse on five under, Ryann O'Toole, Brittany Lang and Mina Harigae.