Ariya Jutanugarn makes good start at Volvik Championship

In-form Ariya Jutanugarn has put herself in a strong position as she pursues a third successive LPGA victory.

The 20-year-old fired an opening seven-under 65 at the inaugural Volvik Championship in Michigan on Thursday.

In a bogey-free round, Ariya bagged seven birdies to put her one stroke behind LPGA veteran Christina Kim at Travis Pointe Country Club.

Ariya, coming off back-to-back wins at the Yokohama Tire Classic and Kingsmill Championship, spoke highly of her mentor Kim, whose first of three LPGA titles came in 2003.

"She's a very nice person. She's great," Ariya said. "Last year, I played badly and she was the only person to come and talk to me like, 'Keep going.' She's such a nice person."

The two friends enjoyed a nice cushion over the chasing pack, with Australian Minjee Lee, Ryu So-yeon of South Korea and American Alex Marina equal third on 68.

Ariya has a chance to become the first player to win three consecutive LPGA tournaments since Inbee Park pulled off the trifecta in 2013.

Park, meanwhile, was forced to withdraw for the second week in a row due to a nagging thumb injury after gamely struggling to an 84 that included a quintuple-bogey nine on the par-four 10th hole.

"Well, it was torture out there today, but I really wanted to finish it off today and I just didn't want to give it up in the middle of the round like last week," Park said.

"I'm just really restricted on my swing. To make a couple of movements, it's painful."

Park is planning to skip next week's ShopRite LPGA Classic and try to tee it up again and defend her title at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship major in a fortnight.