Compared to a year earlier, Michelle Wie and Stephanie Kono both walked off Ko Olina’s Golf Club’s 18th green on Wednesday with far more positives to take into the second round of the LPGA Lotte Championship.

Both Punahou graduates struggled in the opening round of last year’s inaugural event, leaving them a considerable ways off the cut line. In their return, the Hawaii representatives in the 144-player field stayed steady for much of Wednesday’s first round, and Wie’s surge on the back nine put her into red numbers entering this morning’s round.

Wie was 1 over par through 12 holes, then birdied three of the next five and signed for a 2-under-par 70, leaving her in a tie for 27th going into her 7:30 a.m. tee time today.

"I’m happy with what I shot today, considering how it was going up until 12," Wie said. "I just have to go out there tomorrow in the morning and take advantage of the early round and make some birdies early."

Kono, who played her way into the field in Sunday’s qualifier, got off to a birdie-birdie start, gave it back on the next two holes, and eventually got through the round at 1-over 73.

Last year, Wie shot 78 in the first round with Kono a stoke behind her and both missed the cut. Kono has some ground to make up to earn a Friday tee time, but put herself in far better position this time around.

"I feel a lot more comfortable with myself now and I feel more comfortable with the course," Kono said. "I’m hitting some good shots and making some good putts, so hopefully tomorrow it’ll go my way."

Among the adjustments Wie adopted since her last appearance at Ko Olina is an unorthodox putting stance in which her back is bent to nearly parallel with the ground, with her eyes directly over the ball.

Aside from a birdie on No. 2, Wie’s approach shots left her with lengthy birdie putts for much of the front nine. She hit her tee shot into the water bordering the right side of the fairway on No. 10 and settled for bogey to go to 1 over.

She then turned the momentum on the par-5 13th hole, chipping to within 2 feet and making the putt for birdie. Wie followed with another birdie on No. 14, another par 5, rolling in about a 12-footer to get to 1 under. She dropped an 8-foot birdie putt on No. 17 and finished with par on 18.

"You have to take advantage of the par 5s here," Wie said. "On the front nine, I didn’t really do that."

Kono started out with birdies on the first two holes, then bogeyed No. 3 and double-bogeyed the par-3 fourth hole, hitting her approaches over the green on both.

"I think I played a little bit better than what I shot," Kono said. "I hit some really good shots today and unfortunately I didn’t quite get the club selection right on three and four and I made some stupid errors. But overall I think I held it together pretty well."

She birdied No. 11, then got back to even on No. 13, thanks to a lob wedge to about 6 inches from the cup.

"That was really big and unfortunately after that I was scrambling for pars," Kono said. "I made some really good par putts, I was just looking to have a little more birdie opportunities."

Kono’s 79-78 showing in last year’s tournament was part of a rookie season in which she didn’t make a cut in 14 events and returned home this week strengthened by the experience.

"I was a lot more confident and I think was more prepared for the tournament," Kono said. "I feel like I’ve been through it all. After last year, I don’t think there’s anything I can’t handle."