Castren, Tan shoot 64 to lead LPGA Tour team event

Matilda Castren and Kelly Tan have carded a six-under-par 64 in alternate-shot play to take the first-round lead at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational in Michigan, the LPGA Tour's lone team event.

Castren, from Finland, and Tan (Malaysia) birdied the final two holes and four of the last six at the Midland Country Club.

"I felt like we gelled really well today," Tan said.

"She struck the ball so good. I had the chance to make the putt, and vice versa. We both played pretty good today. There's no complaints."

The pair had a bogey-free round.

"She hit the ball really well today," Castren said of her playing partner.

"That definitely gave me a lot of comfort. I knew she was going to hit it close."

Celine Boutier (France) and Yuka Saso (Japan) were a stroke back at 65, tied for second with the teams of Celine Borge (Norway)-Polly Mack (Germany), and Paula Reto (South Africa)-Amelia Lewis (USA).

"We're happy," Saso said.

"We did have some really good saves. Any time you can be bogey-free, it's a good day."

Swedes Linnea Strom and Linnea Johansson were at 66 alongside the Chinese duo of Yu Liu and Ruixin Liu in joint fifth.

"We hit all fairways and that was a good highlight of the day," Johansson said.

"It's not easy in alternate shots to do that. That takes a little bit of stress off your shoulders for both players."

Sarah Kemp and Sarah Jane Smith are the highest-ranked Australians at the event, sitting tied for 18th.

Kemp and partner Alena Sharp, from Canada, hit a first-round one-under 69, and were joined on the leaderboard by Smith and Louise Ridderstrom (Sweden).

Australian pair Hannah Green and Su Oh were two shots further back, tied in 30th alongside Karis Davidson and her Ecuadorian teammate Daniela Darquea.

The teams will play better-ball Thursday, alternate shot Friday and better-ball Saturday, with the tournament ending early to give players an extra day to get to France for the major Evian Championship.