Raj said the women's tournament failed to attract may players this year, but those competing were strong players.
"There's only about eight of us playing this year, but everyone is like on a less than 3 handicap - it's going to be tough," Raj said.
Raj and her caddy mother Arlene only just made it back to the clubhouse before rain began falling on the New Plymouth Golf Club course.
"We were lucky, but they've had a lot of rain up here and there's puddles lying on the fairways and the greens are slow. I have struggled on the greens on the first nine today, but improved on the back nine," Raj said.
It was this time last year where Zheng won her first Jennian Homes Charles Tour title at the Harewood Open and she is in good stead to put a new trophy in her cabinet.
In the men's division former Manawatu Wanganui players Josh Munn and Tyler Hodge both shot 76 in round one on Thursday, while Whanganui-born ex-professional Craig Owen shot 80 on what is now his home track in New Plymouth.
Manawatu golfer Munn has returned home from Melbourne after losing his PGA card in an attempt to regain it, while Hodge plays out of the Levin club.
Play continues through until tomorrow.
