Emerging golf star Rachel Lee has enjoyed a dream debut to lead the Women’s Australian Open after the opening day’s play on Thursday.

The Year 10 student at Endeavour Sports High School shot a 6-under par 67 to be the joint clubhouse leader with American Jenny Shin.

Lee helped herself to eight birdies to upstage the heavyweights at The Lakes golf course in Sydney.

“Honestly, I never thought that (was possible),” she told the ABC.

“Hopefully I can do that for the next three days."

Just last week, Lee won a thrilling sudden-death playoff at the 2023 Women’s NSW Open Golf Regional Qualifying tournament in Mollymook.

The 16-year-old held her nerve over the final holes to win through to the playoff and clinch the title.

Australian Junior champion and Endeavour Sports High student Ann Jang is at three-over in the women's competition and in the men’s competition, HSC class of 2022 student Jeff Guan is 1-under and midway on the leader board just one month after turning pro.