SYLVANIA, Ohio ? Birdie Kim took a solid first step toward proving her stunning U.S. Women’s Open victory wasn’t a fluke.

Kim, two weeks removed from her dramatic win at Cherry Hills, shot a 6-under 65 – her LPGA career low – to share the lead with Becky Morgan after the opening round of the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic on Thursday.

Kim’s 65 was three shots below her previous best on the tour.

She bogeyed her third hole of the day, then birdied seven of her final 13 holes. Six of the birdies didn’t require a putt longer than six feet.

Kim, one of six players with that last name in the Farr field, holed an improbable sand shot on the 72nd hole of the Open to hold off amateurs Morgan Pressel and Brittany Lang, who finished tied for second.

“That gave me a lot of confidence,” Kim said. “I feel free. I don’t have to worry about going back to Q school.”