Leona Maguire sits seven shots off the lead after an opening round 71 at the Maybank Championship in Kuala Lumpur.
The Cavan woman, who began at the 10th hole, turned at two-under following birdies at the 11th, 15th and 18th holes, with one dropped shot at the 14th.
Back-to-back bogeys at the first and second holes saw her slip back to level par before a birdie on the par-three eighth was enough for 71 at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.
She is tied for 51st in a field of 78 where South Korea's Hye-Jin Choi leads the way on eight-under par. Her blemish-free round included half a dozen birdies and an eagle at the par-5 third hole.
She holds a one-shot lead over Italy’s Benedetta Moresco and Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh.
The Maybank Championship is a no-cut event where a $3m (€2.6m) purse, as well as coveted points, are on offer with just three events remaining on the regular season schedule.
