ROGERS, Ark. — Veronica Felibert left the LPGA Tour event in Canada on Sunday with the intention of trying to qualify Monday for the NW Arkansas Championship.

The rookie from Venezuela and second alternate in the Arkansas tournament later found out she had made the field without needing to qualify.

Felibert made the most of her opportunity Friday, shooting a career-best 6-under 65 to take the first-round lead at Pinnacle Country Club. The former Southern California player had seven birdies and needed only 27 putts.

The round is Felibert’s best in five official LPGA starts this season, topping her previous best of 71 in the second round of the Mobile Bay Classic in April. She entered this week No. 723 in the world rankings.

“I’m enjoying it,” Felibert said. “It’s like a dream to be on top all the time. It’s my rookie season, and I was trying to just play the best I could and that’s what I’m doing. And as long as I’m enjoying it, I’ll be happy.”

China’s Shanshan Feng, the LPGA Championship winner this month, was a stroke back and also needed only 27 putts. Feng was tied for the lead at 6 under entering the par-5 18th and reached the fringe in two shots, but a poor chip led to a three-putt and a 5-under 66.

“I would say my chipping has been not very consistent recently, and I haven’t got a lot of chance to practice,” Feng said. “I would say that one, the green was a little softer than I thought, a little slower going up the hill, and I just didn’t give it enough and then it came back.”

Top-ranked Yani Tseng, the two-time defending champion and a three-time winner this year, opened with a 2-over 73, her fifth straight round over par.