"It was great," Li told reporters Thursday. "What I was so happy about in my round, (was that) after I got doubles and triples, I was able to get it back. And I got a lot of pars after that."
Heading into the tournament, Li said her only ambition was to "have fun and play the best I can."
But the California native can also count growing experience in her time at Pinehurst, not least how to deal with the perilous course -- which hosted the men's U.S. Open last week."It's tough," said Li. "You miss the ball by three feet and it could be like a two- or three-shot difference.
"You could hit it three feet more right and you'd be putting this far away for birdie. Or you could be in the bunker and struggling for a bogey."
Tour pros had raised doubts about whether the child amateur -- still wearing braces and standing on a box to address the media after her opening round -- should be subjected to the pressure and expectation of such a big professional event.
"When I found out she qualified, I said, 'Well, where does she go from here? You qualify for an Open at 11, what do you do next?' " asked world No. 1 Stacy Lewis on Wednesday.
The 29-year-old added: "If it was my kid, I wouldn't let her play in the U.S. Open qualifier at 11, but that's just me."
Pressure seemed to be the least of Li's worries as she chatted with the older members of her playing group and feasted on an ice cream during the post-round press conference.
"She is so mature for her age," said 23-year-old Jessica Wallace, who played with Li and Catherine O'Donnell -- the latter also shot 78.
"There were times when I felt more immature than she is. Catherine and I had fun talking to her. She's so mature, it's like talking to another 23-year-old."
Li became officially the youngest player to qualify after securing her place at an event at Half Moon Bay Golf Club near her home in California.
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