Ariya, 11, breaks Wie's Tour mark

PATTAYA, Thailand -- Suzann Pettersen led the LPGA tournament in Thailand but she had to share top billing in the first round on Thursday with local amateur Ariya Jutanugam who is just 11 years of age.

Jutanugam, still a month short of her 12th birthday, broke Michelle Wie's record of being the youngest player in an LPGA Tour event when she qualified for the tournament at the Pattaya Old Course at Siam Country Club.

Wie played in the 2002 Takefuji Classic at 12 years, four months and 14 days of age.

Jutanugam, who used her 13-year-old sister, Moriya, as her caddy, shot a creditable three-over-par 75 in the opening round.

Norway's Pettersen, seeking her second straight victory and third in four weeks, powered to a seven-under-par 65 in warm and breezy conditions.

"These greens, you just have to attack where you can attack and, if you can't, then you have to play for the big center part," Pettersen said. "The greens are tough because the runoffs are so severe."

The Norwegian star won last week in South Korea in cold and windy conditions.

"It's very warm, but the breeze makes it quite nice," Pettersen said. "So, I just tried to go out there and take what the course gave me. It's like last week, you could stand and talk about the shot and then, when it's your turn, the wind's turned."

Canadian Alena Sharp, winless in two full seasons on the tour, had six birdies and a bogey in her 67 to be Pettersen's nearest challenger.

Angela Park of Korea and Katherine Hull shot 68s.

"I didn't hit it great, but I didn't miss it badly, either," said Hull, from Australia. "I made a couple good putts and it all adds up. ... I'm just trying to get my timing back with my golf swing. It's still a little off, but it's not rocket science. I just try to hit the fairway, hit the green."

Former world number one Annika Sorenstam, winless since September 2006, was seven shots behind at 72 along with Paula Creamer, Brittany Lincicome and Thai star Virada Nirapathpongporn.

Defending champion Hee-Won Han, making her first start since the birth of her first child this summer, topped a group at 69. Last year at Amata Spring, Han beat Diana D'Alessio by five strokes for her sixth LPGA Tour victory. E-mail to a friend

Copyright 2007 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.