The Thai teenage sensation collected seven birdies and a brilliant eagle two on the par-4 13th to grab a one-stroke first-round lead over Korean amateur Minsol Kim.

American Andrea Lee and home hopes A Lim Kim and Yaeeun Hong share third at six-under, with Steph Kyriacou the leading Australian six shots off the pace after an opening-round 69.

Minjee Lee, in a seemingly four-way battle for LPGA player-of-the-year honours, carded a two-under 70 to be in a tie for 19th. She is joined by fellow Australians Hannah Green and Su Oh.

Lee and Thitikul could usurp defending champion Jin Young Ko from the top ranking with a victory on Sunday, with the Thai in the box seat after a sizzling, bogey-free opening to the third-last event of the LPGA season.

Thitikul has already won twice in her maiden season on the LPGA Tour to be in with a chance of claiming both the rookie and the player of the year awards.

“I just want to go out – every day I go out and play, I just focus on what I have to do. I just think about golf, about how I'm going to hit every shot, I'm not really thinking about the awards or what I'm going to achieve that much,” Thitikul said.

Three players carded 68s and were five off the lead: New Zealand's former World No.1 Lydia Ko and U.S. pair Lilia Vu and Alison Lee.

Minsol Kim, in addition to getting off to a quick start with a 64, got to play with a personal hero. It is also her first year on the Tour.

"When I was younger, I actually came as a gallery to watch the BMW Championships, and I remember thinking that Sung Hyun Park was really cool," Kim said.

"So today, to play side by side with her, it was a real honour."

Park, who has won two majors, had a 69.