SYLVANIA, Ohio — Laura Diaz got off to a surprising start at the Marathon Classic.

Diaz shot a 9-under 62 for a four-stroke lead in Thursday’s opening round.

U.S. Open champion Michelle Wie shot a 2-over 73, 2008 Marathon winner Paula Creamer was at 72 along with another perennial contender at Highland Meadows, Morgan Pressel.

The defending champion, Spain’s Beatriz Recari, and the world’s No. 1-ranked player, Stacy Lewis, a Toledo native, were well down the list at 1 under.

“I definitely didn’t have my best out there,” Lewis said.

Diaz sure did.

“I’m very happy to shoot 62; I would be lying if I said I wasn’t,” she said. “It’s nice to get a good feeling after round one. To see the ball going in the hole, I think that’s always a boost.”

Despite being winless in the past 12 years on the LPGA Tour, she stunned the field by birdieing her first five holes in a round that included nine birdies and no bogeys.

She made a 30-footer on her fifth hole, the 14th. Then she stepped back and enjoyed the moment.