WASHINGTON: American Mina Harigae fired a stunning 7-under par 64 to seize a one-stroke lead over shock Swedish amateur Ingrid Lindblad after Thursday鈥檚 opening round of the 77th US Women鈥檚 Open.

Harigae made nine birdies against two bogeys to finish one off the tournament record after Lindblad led much of the day at Pine Needles in Southern Pines, North Carolina.

鈥淚 was confident that as long as I could hit it where I needed to then it would be a pretty good day,鈥� Harigae said. 鈥淏ut I didn鈥檛 think it would be this good of a day.鈥�

The 32-year-old American, whose parents are from Japan, was one off the US Women鈥檚 Open 18-hole record of 63 by Helen Alfredsson from 1994.

Lindblad, a 22-year-old standout for Louisiana State University, shot the lowest score by an amateur in tournament history. She needed only 26 putts.

鈥淚 hit a few shots close to the pin, and then my putting was great,鈥� she said. 鈥淢ade a few par saves and made a few putts for birdies. It just worked from fairway to green.鈥�

Their rounds marked the first time since 1999 that two players had shot 65 or better in the major showdown, known for its harsh rough and lightning-fast greens.

Australian Minjee Lee, last month鈥檚 LPGA Founders Cup winner, shared third on 67 with American Ryann O鈥橳oole and Sweden鈥檚 Anna Nordqvist.

Harigae, who has never won an LPGA title, had her best major finishes, a share of 13th, at last year鈥檚 Women鈥檚 British Open and the 2020 Women鈥檚 PGA Championship.

鈥淚鈥檓 just going to do the same thing as today, one shot at a time,鈥� Harigae said of her early Friday start in round two with the lead. 鈥淭ry to hit as many greens as I can because I鈥檓 really confident with my putting right now.鈥�

Harigae opened with back-to-back birdies, added two more at the fourth and sixth holes and closed the front nine with another birdie, defying the tricky Pine Needles greens.

鈥淵ou have to hit it in the right spots because if you don鈥檛 the greens are kind of turtle back so you get to roll off,鈥� Harigae said.

After a bogey at the par-5 10th, Harigae answered with back-to-back birdies at the 12th and par-3 13th, then followed a bogey at 14 with birdies at the par-5 15th and a chip-in birdie at the par-3 16th to swipe the lead.

鈥淚 was trying to think, 鈥楯ust make good contact,鈥欌€� she said. 鈥淚 never chip in in tournaments so I was super excited that even happened.鈥�

She closed with two pars, the last on a clutch six-foot putt, to stay on top.

World amateur number two Lindblad, who won four of her first five college events this year, can鈥檛 claim the record $1.8 million top prize from a $10 million purse, the largest in women鈥檚 golf history.

鈥淚t would have been fun to win a little bit of money, but I鈥檓 going to stay in college for a little bit more,鈥� Lindblad said.

The only amateur player to ever win the US Women鈥檚 Open was France鈥檚 Catherine Lacoste in 1967.

鈥淭hey said just one amateur has won it,鈥� Lindblad said. 鈥淵eah, it鈥檚 possible.鈥�

Lindblad was thrilled to play alongside her childhood idol, 51-year-old Swedish legend Annika Sorenstam.

鈥淚t was really cool. We had fun out there,鈥� Lindblad said. 鈥淪he fist pumped me for a few birdies, and it was fun.鈥�

Sorenstam was delighted with Lindblad鈥檚 performance.

鈥淧layed so solid. Really good touch and she putted beautifully,鈥� Sorenstam said. 鈥淚 was really impressed.鈥�

Sorenstam, who won the 1996 US Women鈥檚 Open at Pine Needles, won last year鈥檚 US Senior Women鈥檚 Open to qualify. She opened with a 74.

Nelly Korda, who hadn鈥檛 played since February due to a blood clot, returned from a 117-day layoff and fired a 70.