The little-known trio of Beatriz Recari, Ryann O'Toole and Giulia Sergas shot three-under par 69s to share the first round lead at the LPGA Championship, while defending champion Yani Tseng endured a horror round of 76.
Ranked 83, 128 and 132 in the world respectively, the trio certainly weren't the players expected to be making their mark early on in the year's second Major. But more fancied contenders the likes of Na Yeon Choi, Cristie Kerr and Paula Creamer had to be content with breathing down their necks just one shot back.
Recari is the only one of the three leaders to have a tour title to her name, having won in her rookie season in 2010. The Spaniard begun the tournament with a bogey on the 11th after starting on the back nine, but followed it up with three consecutive birdies starting at the 14th.
"It definitely feels great," said Recari. "I had a great feeling on the greens. I was just seeing the line, putting a good stroke and most of them dropped in."
O'Toole too enjoyed a solid round, while Sergas had a more eventful day.
The Italian was on level-par heading into her final four holes, having scratched out three birdies with three bogeys. She then birdied the 15th, 16th and 18th to find herself among the leaders.
The former European Amateur champion was left to rue what could have been.
"They were silly bogeys," she said. "Like one bogey I was in the middle of the fairway 100 yards to the pin. So I was thinking, I was hoping, birdie and I ended up having a bogey.
"And another one, it was just a missed chip from the high rough around the green. So they were silly. They could have been par really."
Another player who is certainly wondering where it all went wrong is defending champion Tseng who is in danger of missing the cut - a stark contrast of last year's event where she roared to a ten-shot win.
"I just couldn't hit a shot, couldn't hit on the green, couldn't hit on the fairway," said Tseng. "It was really tough for me out there. I was very disappointed. I love the golf course and I know I can have a low score here.
"I know it's my mental problem," she added.
"I'm hitting so well on the driving range, and when I get on the first tee there's something wrong. I need to get my mental set-up like before at the beginning of this year."
The tournament is serving as a pro debut for Tiger Woods' niece, Cheyenne Woods, who shot a 75. Woods is playing at the Locust Hill Country Club on a sponsor's exemption and revealed she was satisfied with her round
despite finishing three-over-par.
"I've been waiting, waiting for this moment," she said.
"I was a little nervous starting off, but it felt good to be out there and finally playing. I'm pretty happy with how I played. I had a few blips."
golf365.com