Veronica Felibert

Veronica Felibert holds a one-shot lead after the first round of the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship on Friday.

The Venezuelan, making her fifth start of the year on the LPGA Tour, carded a six-under 65 at the Pinnacle Country Club.

China's Feng Shanshan, winner of this year's LPGA Championship, is outright second a shot behind Felibert.

South Korean pair MJ Hur and Park In-Bee are tied for third at four under, alongside Frenchwoman Karine Icher.

Defending champion and world number one Yani Tseng continued to struggle, tied for 76th at two over in her first appearance since finishing equal 59th at the LPGA Championship.

The day belonged to Felibert, who failed to win in her two years on the LPGA Symetra Tour - the tour's development circuit.

She holed seven birdies and a bogey and said a newfound confidence was the key to her round.

"I think I was hitting the ball pretty good. I remember just missing one green, just chipping once and just hitting fairways and greens," Felibert said.

"I've been working really hard on my putter. I just switched a week ago, so this will be my second week with the putter. I don't know, I'm feeling pretty confident and I would say that was what made the difference.

"Maybe I haven't been in this situation on the LPGA yet, but I played a few good tournaments last year, so I'm like kind of familiar. It's not like all of a sudden I'm in this position."

At three under and three shots off the pace are Swede Anna Nordqvist, Japan's Ai Miyazato and American Ryann O'Toole.