PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico — Sometimes the best shots are the ones you don't even see go in. That was certainly the case for LPGA rookie Melanie Green, whose surprise hole-in-one fueled a brilliant 6-under 66 and a share of the first-round lead at the Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba.

Green, in her debut season on the LPGA Tour, was completely unaware she had aced the par-3 15th hole. Her 7-iron landed about 20 feet short and rolled smoothly into the cup. While the announcers erupted, Green was still looking for her ball on the green.

"I was like, 'OK, great shot. Phenomenal.' Grab the putter — normally hit the green, grab the putter, it's a cool effect,'" Green recalled. "Then we're walking up and I'm looking at the green. There is no ball."

Embarrassed, she handed her putter back to her caddie and grabbed a wedge to chip. But after her caddie repaired the pitch mark and glanced in the hole, he spotted the ball marked with a cross. "I walk up there and all I could see was the cross. I was so excited," Green said. "Thought I just went way left. But whatever. Good bounce."

The ace sparked a remarkable run — Green carded five birdies and turned in 30. She stumbled with a bogey on her final hole but was all smiles after a dream start.

Joining Green atop the leaderboard is Brianna Do, who took advantage of calmer morning conditions. Do opened with four birdies in five holes, dropped a shot at No. 9, then played the back nine bogey-free with three more birdies. "For some reason, playing in the wind helps me just play golf, instead of playing a golf swing," Do said, crediting her recent U.S. Women's Open qualifier for preparing her for the Gulf breezes.

Meanwhile, world No. 1 Nelly Korda showed no signs of slowing down after capturing her first major of the year just four days ago. Despite battling stronger afternoon winds that made the tight fairways at El Camaleon even more demanding, Korda opened with a 68 — just two shots off the lead. The reigning powerhouse continues to prove why she's the player to beat, and with three rounds to go, the leaderboard is already shaping up for a thrilling weekend.