Green Ties Riviera Maya Lead After Unseen Ace

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico — Melanie Green recorded a hole-in-one she did not realize she had made until reaching the green, vaulting her to a share of the lead after the opening round of the Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba on Thursday.

Green, in her first season on the LPGA Tour, fired a 6-under 66 at El Camaleon Golf Club to match Brianna Do atop the leaderboard. Her ace came on her sixth hole of the day, the par-3 15th, where she struck a 7-iron that landed about 20 feet short of the pin and rolled into the cup. Broadcasters spotted the ball dropping in, but Green kept walking, assuming it had bounded off 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 said. "Then we're walking up and I'm looking at the green. There is no ball."

She handed her putter to her caddie and reached for a wedge to chip on, only for him to spot the ball in the hole, identified by its marking of a cross. "I walk up there and all I could see was the cross. I was so excited," Green said. "Yeah, thought I just went way left. But whatever. Good bounce. And it was a great start."

Green added five birdies, going out in 30,...