The 23-year-old Sydneysider – tied for 10th – had a mixed bag on Thursday at Sentosa Golf Club.
She carded five birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey on the par-3 4th.
Compatriots Hannah Green, Grace Kim and Minjee Lee all had 74s, while Sarah Kemp was one stroke further back at three-over.
Sarah Schmelzel is the early leader after making birdies on two of her final three holes for a four-under 68 to enjoy a one-stroke lead over three players, including fellow American Lilia Vu.
Also tied for second with Vu were Sweden’s Linn Grant and Esther Henseleit of Germany.
South Korea’s two-time defending champion Jin Young Ko shot a 71.
Patty Tavatanakit, who won last week’s home event in Thailand, had a 74, and Canadian Brooke Henderson a 75.
Former World No.1 and two-time major winner Lee is playing for the first time this year on tour.
The prestigious $US1.8 million ($A2.75 million) LPGA event features an elite 66-player field, with no cut.
This is the second of three straight weeks in Asia. Next week the tour moves to China and the Blue Bay event on Hainan Island.
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