Elizabeth Szokol registered a surprising lead at the 2023 HSBC Women's World Championship after the first round on Thursday, March 2.The American golfer could not have had a better start to the tournament than with a birdie on the first hole. She then went on to make two consecutive birdies on the fifth and the sixth hole followed by two more on the eighth and ninth holes. View this post on Instagram Instagram PostSzokol sank eight birdies in total to finish at 64 to top the leaderboard tally. Speaking about her performance, Elizabeth Szokol said:"Yeah, after that bogey, I just kind of focused on making birdies and made a few longer putts, and then got a little more comfortable and started hitting some good iron shots in and had some closer looks. So it was a fun day.”Danielle Kang secured second position with a scoring deficit of six, followed by Chella Choi, Leona Maguire, Mina Harigae, Hannah Green, Carlota Ciganda, Yuka Saso, and Jeongeun Lee6, who were settled for third position after the opening round.The early and professional life of Elizabeth SzokolBorn in 1995, Elizabeth Szokol was an injury-prone athlete. She had knee surgery during her school days.Szokol experienced her first knee injury when she was 12, after playing tennis and softball. She then switched her career to golf at the age of 14.Elizabeth Szokol led her school team to the 2010 Illinois State Championship. During her sophomore days while studying at Northwestern University, Szokol made the Academic All-Big Ten and second-team All-Big Ten. View this post on Instagram Instagram PostShe turned professional in 2017. Elizabeth started her journey on the Symetra Tour and recorded six top-10 finishes in her rookie season. She also finished runner-up at the Four Winds Invitational.The University of Virginia native recorded her first professional victory at the IOA Invitational. She registered a four-stroke victory over Pajaree Anannarukan. She then went on to finish fourth on the Symetra Tour's official Money List and earned an LPGA Tour card for the 2019 season.In her four years of playing on the Ladies Tour, Elizabeth made 10 cuts in 20 starts and finished in a tie for sixth at the Aberdeen Standard Investment Ladies Scottish Open.2023 HSBC Women’s World Championship participants Marina AlexNarin AnPajaree AnannarukarnCeline BoutierAshleigh BuhaiMatilda CastrenTiffany ChanChella ChoiHye-Jin ChoiIn Gee ChunCarlota CigandaAllisen CorpuzGemma DryburghJodi Ewart ShadoffMaria FassiAyaka FurueLinn GrantHannah GreenGeorgia HallMina HarigaeNasa HataokaBrooke HendersonEun Hee JiAriya JutanugarnMoriya JutanugarnDanielle KangMegan KhangA Lim KimHyo Joo KimSei Young KimCheyenne KnightJin Young KoLydia KoJessica KordaNelly KordaJennifer KupchoAlison LeeAndrea LeeMinjee LeeJeongeun Lee6Stacy LewisXiyu LinYu LiuGaby LopezNanna Koerstz MadsenLeona MaguireAnna NordqvistRyann O'ToolePornanong PhatlumPaula RetoMadelene SagstromMao SaigoLizette SalasYuka SasoSarah SchmelzelSophia SchubertYuting ShiHinako ShibunoJenny ShinMaja StarkElizabeth SzokolAmanda TanPatty TavatanakitAtthaya ThitikulLilia VuAmy Yang