Sara Byrne sits just two shots off the lead after an opening round 68 at the Jabra Ladies Open de France.
The 25-year-old opened with a birdie at Evian Resort Golf Club and recovered well from dropped shots at the fifth and eight holes.
A birdie at the ninth was followed by three more on the back nine as she trails clubhouse leader Dorthea Forbrigd by just two shots.
Byrne was the only Irish par to finish above level par with Aine Donegan carding a one-over par 72, a shot better off than Anna Foster.
Annabel Wilson will begin Friday on four over.
Norway's Forbrigd, who celebrated her 29th birthday yesterday, is the player to catch after an opening round 66.
She made birdies on the fourth and sixth holes before three on the trot on holes nine, 10 and 11.
She added another birdie on 15 with her only dropped shot of the day on 16 to seal a round of five-under-par.
"It was a very good ball striking day, and all my birdie putts were within four metres," she said.
"I also had a lot of good chances that I missed. It was super steady and felt kind of easy. I had one hole where I had to fight and I had to make par, but overall, it was really good."
