Lee once again battled an uncooperative putter but still wound up still in the mix after hitting 17 straight greens before thunderstorms forced the suspension of the first round at the Chevron Championship.
Chinese early bird Yan Liu and South Korean world No.12 Haeran Ryu set the pace with seven-under-par 65s at the Club at Carlton Woods outside Houston on Thursday (Friday AEST).
Lee was easily the best of the Aussies, edging her way to two under through 17 holes with two birdies late on an otherwise rueful day at the year's first major championship.
The sweet-swinging dual major champion was unable to cash in on a typically supreme display of ball-striking, a three-putt bogey on her second hole, the par-4 11th, setting the tone for a frustrating day on the greens.
But Lee showed true grit to hang tough as some of women's golf's biggest names floundered at the $US8 million showpiece.
World No.1 and defending champion Nelly Korda will need some round-two magic just to make the halfway cut after opening with a shocking five-over 77 to be tied for 118th in the 132-player field.
The American is a dozen shots behind the leading duo, who enjoyed a two-stroke buffer over Hyo Joo Kim, with fellow Korean Hye-Jin Kim and Thailand's former world No.1 and two-time major winner Ariya Jutanugarn a further shot back in a six-way share of fourth.
Spaniard Carlota Ciganda, Belgian Manon de Roey and Americans Brooke Matthews and Lucy Li were also four under when the horn sounded to stop play.
Of the seven Australians, Gabriela Ruffels was the next best after Lee in a tie for 34th after rallying with two birdies in her last three holes for a level-par 72.
World No.5 Hannah Green cut a dejected figure after only managing a one-over 73.
Having not contended at a major in years, Green had planned to grind her way to a decent start but instead leaked three shots on the back nine following a promising two-under outward run.
Steph Kyriacou (74) also has work to do to make the cut, while fellow Sydneysider Cassie Porter carded a two-over on her major championship debut.
Grace Kim was three over par through 16 holes, with Hira Naveed posting a disappointing 78 after entering the week confident of contending after missing the cut on her major debut last year.
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