VALLARTA, Mexico >> Six of the seven PGA Tour events this year had international winners, and the Mexico Open kept up with trend Thursday when Jeremy Paul of Germany, Kris Ventura of Norway and Harry Hall of England shared the lead at 7-under 64. Hall played early and handled the gusts at Vidanta Vallarta, chipping in from 30 yards for eagle on the par-5 sixth hole and driving the green on the 297-yard seventh hole for another look at eagle. He putted for birdie and closed with two more pars.

Ventura and Paul, whose twin brother Yannik plays on the European tour, had the advantage of the wind slightly easing late in the afternoon. But it was a matter of making birdies on a day when 70 players in the 132-man field broke 70.

Ventura was the only player to reach 8 under, running off three straight birdies late in his round. But he missed the green on the par-3 ninth, his final hole, chipped to 10 feet and missed the par putt.

Iwai leads LPGA Thailand by 3 strokes>> Akie Iwai made the best of a sponsor’s invite to shoot a 10-under 62 and lead by three strokes after the first round of the LPGA’s Thailand tournament at Siam Country Club’s Pattaya Old Course in Pattaya.

The Japanese player started with four birdies before picking up three more by the turn.

She birdied three of her last four holes, equaling the 18-hole record set by countrywoman Yuka Saso in 2022 and American Jessica Korda in 2018.

“Today, my shots and my putting were good,” said Iwai, who has twice played the course in a tournament. “I’ve learned where to miss and where not to miss. I am getting to know the golf course very well.”

The 22-year-old Iwai earned her LPGA tour membership after finishing in a tie for fifth at the LPGA Final Qualifier last year.

Three shots behind was world No. 27 Maja Stark of Sweden, who had an eagle on the fifth hole along with six birdies and one bogey for a 65.