Leona Maguire's return to form continued today as she stands one shot off the lead after the first round of the Women's Scottish Open.
Maguire's blemish-free round began with a bang as the Cavan golfer eagled her first hole, holing out from the fairway on the par-four 10th. Birdies followed at the 17th (her eighth), the first and second, as she continues to distance herself from a mid-season run of missed cuts.
Lottie Woad's professional debut saw her outscore world number one Nelly Korda and recent major winner Minjee Lee to take a share of second place with Maguire at Dundonald Links.
The 21-year-old former world number one amateur had held top spot on her own after six birdies in 14 holes, including almost holing her tee shot at the short 11th.
However, her only bogey of the day at the par-four 17th dropped her back into the group on five under, with Maguire – herself a former number one-ranked amateur, after signing for a 67.
Woad, who won the Irish Open earlier this month, announced her decision to turn professional last week after missing out on £400,000 in prize money, having finished just a shot outside the play-off won by Grace Kim at the Evian Championship, the fourth women's major of the year.
Nuria Iturrioz, Arpichaya Yubol and Rio Takeda also reached that score but it was subsequently overtaken by England's Charlotte Laffar late in the day, who carded eight birdies and two bogeys in getting to six under.
In a large group one shot on four under are world number one and two-time major winner Nelly Korda and Lee, who won her third major at last month’s US PGA Championship.
It was a day to forget for Lauren Walsh, who shot a five-over 77.
