Golf: Lee leads in Texas, Ko off pace

In-form Danny Lee blasts out of a sand trap on the 18th hole during the first round of the Valero Texas Open golf tournament in San Antonio. Photo / AP

Danny Lee continued his recent run of form by taking a share of the lead at the Texas Open on a contrasting day for Kiwi golfers.

While Lydia Ko ended the first round of the Kia Classic in California tied for 71st after a two-over par 74, Lee will head into round two on top of the leaderboard.

The 23-year-old shot a four-under 68 on the opening day in San Antonio to join Americans Pat Pereze and Andrew Loupe at the front of the field, one shot ahead of six players tied for second.

After earlier this month recording his best finish on the PGA Tour by coming second at the Puerto Rico Open, Lee took a first-round lead at the Valspar Championship before collapsing to miss the cut.

He finished in a tie for 31st at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and shot four birdies in his final five holes to sit in pole position at the US$6.2 million ($7.2 million) tournament in Texas.

"It was a really nice day for me," hesaid. "I was hitting it really well. I wasn't making enough putts in the early round but at the end I made some 15-footers and 25-footers."

Lee had missed six straight cuts before he earned US$378,000 ($446,000) for his work in Puerto Rico, a tournament he said sparked a resurgence in his game.

" I was starting to act more positive, I was believing in every shot I hit and I was believing in my game.

"I know I can do this and that attitude changed me. It changed my game quite a lot, I think."

Fellow Kiwi Tim Wilkinson was sitting on one-over in a tie for 70th when play was suspended due to darkness, while on the Japan Tour Gareth Paddison shot eight-under to take a first round lead at the Indonesia Championship.

Ko trails leaders Paula Creamer and Mariajo Uribe by seven shots.