MICHELE THOMSON'S SOLID START TO WOMEN'S AUSSIE OPEN

Michele Thomson (Photo Courtesy of Diane Craighead)

Scotland's Michele Thomson has made a solid start to the Women's Australian Open at Royal Adelaide Golf Club.

The Meldrum House Hotel, Oldmeldrum player from Ellon shot a six-under-par 67 to be tied sixth behind Australian Katherine Kirk, the first-round leader with a bogey-free, eight-birdie 65 at the head of an international of a field of 144.

Thomson birdied the third, seventh, eighth and ninth in an outward half of 33. She also birdied the 15th and 17th but had a solitary bogey at the short 16th in 35 home.

Jodi Ewart Shadoff from Yorkshire is the leading Englisj player in T17 position on 70 alongside Michelle Wie.

Charley Hull, Charlotte Thomas, Laura Davies and Amy Boulden are T41 with one-under 72s.

Aberdeen-born Gemma Dryburgh and Mel Reid are T61 on 73.

Former Women's British Open champion Catriona Matthew from North Berwick made a disappointing start with a three-over 76 for a share of 111th position.

Catriona started well enough with birdies at the first and second but had a disastrous inward half of 40 with a double bogey 5 at the short 12th and another double bogey 6 at the par-4 18th.

WOMEN'S AUSTRALIAN OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES
Par 73. Yardage: 6,692
65 Katherine Kirk (Australia).
67 Min Lee (Taipei), Jane Parke (USA), Marissa Steen (USA), Chella Choi (South Korea).

SELECTED SCORES
68 Michele Thomson (Scotland) (T6).
70 Jodi Ewart Shadoff (England), Michelle Wie (USA) (T17).
72 Charley Hull, Charlotte Thomas, Laura Davies, Amy Boulden (T41).
73 Gemma Dryburgh (Scotland), Mel Reid (England) (T61).
76 Catriona Matthew (Scotland) (T111).
77 Holly Clyburn (England) (T122).
79 Becky Morgan (Wales), Felicity Johnson (England) (T136).
Field of 144 players.