With a typically classy finish, Minjee Lee has fired an early warning to her rivals at the Women's British Open in Wales. Australia's resurgent superstar negotiated some wild and windy morning conditions to post a solid first-round 2-under-par 70 to sit three shots off the lead. Bidding to win a fourth career major after taking out June's PGA Championship, Lee offset three bogeys with five birdies at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club. After a disappointing six on the reachable par-five 13th, Lee rebounded with a brilliant sand-save birdie on the last hole to be sitting tied for 14th. Fellow Australians Grace Kim and Gabriela Ruffels are one stroke further back, tied for 30th. Eri Okayami and Rio Takeda carded 5-under 67s to share the first-round lead as the Japanese contingent shone in the early stages. Compatriot Miyu Yamashita was a shot behind while Chisato Iwai, Shiho Kuwaki and Mao Saigo all posted 69s as Japan accounted for six of the top 13. "I don't think I'm going to complain with a two-under start," Lee said. "Some of the holes are just beasts out there. "Sometimes you've got to take what you get and just make a bogey and get out of there and reset, try and make a better score on the next hole. "It's a major championship. You''re going to make bogeys. Just try to keep your emotions in check and take it one shot at a time." Kim, one of nine Australians featuring at golf's final major of the year, was also well positioned four shots off the clubhouse lead when she signed for a one-under 71. After backing up Lee's PGA Championship win in June to give Australia two consecutive major victories with a stunning finish at the Evian Championship, Kim held her nerve down the stretch to stay in the mix in Wales. Kim was 1-over at the turn before collecting two birdies on the back nine to remain in the mix for back-to-back majors. She admitted it had been a battle of attrition against the elements, saying: "Just try to keep grinding it out the next three days as well hopefully. This whole week, literally I think the best word to describe it is a 'grind'. "That's kind of what you're going to get throughout these weeks, this week anyway with the conditions. The wind did pick up certain holes, the sun came out, and then it disappeared. "The amount of wind was up-and-down throughout the day. Knowing that, really just trying to hit fairways and greens and just make a lot of pars." Fellow 24-year-old Australian Ruffels joined Kim at 1-under with a similarly hot finish and birdie at the last. "I think I played super solid on the front nine as well. Started to get it together on the back nine and make a few more putts. I think I was three-under on the back nine. Really happy with that," she said. Compatriot Steph Kyriacou endured a problematic round to finish 2-over and it was a tough start for fellow Australians Karis Davidson (5-over) and Kirsten Rudgeley (6-over). Out-of-form world number 11 Hannah Green and Cassie Porter are almost certain to miss the halfway cut after both opened with 7-over 79 shockers.