Liz McKinnon, the former New Zealand junior champion who now lives near Inverness and is a Nairn member, reserved her place in the match-play stages with a 75 for 156.
"Please sell hello to my mum," said Liz. "She'll be tuning in to Gillian's website when she gets up in New Zealand to see how I have done."
Liz, with her husband as caddie, birdeied the third, fourth, 12th, 13th and 14th.
She sent a five-wood tee shot to within 7ft of the hole for a 2 at the third (160yd) and wedge to a foot for a 4 at the fourth.
Liz chipped in from 60ft for a 3 at the 12th, pitched and putted for a 4 at the 13th and holed an 8ft putt to complete a hat-trick of birdies at the 14th.
On the downside, Mrs McKinnon had a couple of double bogey 6s at the seventh and ninth, missing the green in regulation both times. She was buried in the rough at the seventh and wisely decided to take a penalty drop. At the ninth, she three-putted after taking three to get on.
Danielle Masters, 20-year-old rising England star from Kent, took over the clubhouse lead at one-under-par 145 after a 73.