Karie Webb shot a 6-under par 65 on Thursday in the LPGA Malaysia to hold a share of the lead alongside defending champion Na Yeon Choi.

Choi was 5 under through 12 holes when first-round play was delayed because of lightning, then added a birdie on the par-4 14th and finished the bogey-free round with four pars.

The South Korean player won the US Women’s Open in July for her first major title and sixth LPGA Tour victory.

Webb also had a bogey-free round, joining Choi atop the leaderboard after the delay with a birdie on the par-3 17th.

The Australian veteran won consecutive events early last year in Singapore and Phoenix for the last of her 38 LPGA Tour victories.

“Six birdies and no bogeys, I’m pleased with that,” Webb said. “It’s always hard to stay in focus after you have to sit it out for more than three hours.

“Instead of wanting to finish it off quickly without making mistakes, I was trying to hit some quality shots and that made the difference.”

Japan’s Mika Miyazato, South Korea’s Sun Young Yoo and 17-year-old Taiwanese amateur Min Lee were a stroke back at 66.

The tournament opens the tour’s four-event Asian swing. The HanaBank Championship is next week in South Korea, followed by stops in Taiwan and Japan.