Karen Lunn continued her hot start to 2012 on Friday, claiming a share of the lead after the first round of the women’s NSW Open in difficult conditions at Oatlands Golf Club in Sydney.
Lunn, who last week won the Royal Canberra Ladies Classic, fired a 68 thanks to a strong back nine in which she holed three birdies to share the lead with Rachel Bailey at four-under-par.
A six-strong group, including Nikki Garrett, sit a shot further back.
Sarah Oh looked set to challenge for a place at the top of the leaderboard when she raced to four-under on the front nine holes but bogeys at the 15th and 17th dropped her back to two-under.
Lunn said the tricky conditions played a huge part, with the wet course posing plenty of challenges before predicting there wouldn’t be many opportunities to pick up shots quickly in the final two rounds.
“It wasn’t easy out there today. The wind was swirling and we had a few showers,” Lunn told reporters after her round.
“It’s playing as long as it’s ever played because it’s so wet. There might be a five or six-under (this weekend) but there won’t be any silly low scores out there.”
Her claims were supported by England’s Melissa Reid, who struggled early in just her second tournament in the past three months.
Reid, who freely admits her sights are firmly set on next week’s Ladies Masters on the Gold Coast and the Australian Open that follows it, blew the cobwebs out and picked up three birdies on the final six holes to finish a respectable two-under for the day.
“I’m obviously going to be a bit rusty but, all in all, I was quite happy with the way I hit it,” Reid said.
“It was just my putting which was a bit rocky.
“I’m trying different shots out. It’s more about getting into the swing of things really. Obviously my goal this week is to win.
“If the wind dies down a little bit, there will be a six-under out there.”
New Zealand prodigy Lydia Ko caught the attention of the golfing world this time last year by finishing second with a three-putt on the final hole.
The 14-year-old amateur conquered the hole this time around, posting a par in her round of 70.
“I’m trying to erase (the memory of the missed putts from last year),” Ko said.
“I played pretty consistent the whole round. I’m happy.”
Pre-tournament favourite Katherine Hull enjoyed the perfect start, picking up three birdies in the first four holes before falling away badly to shoot a one-over 73.
The 29-year-old showed some signs of rust on the greens as she dropped three shots between holes 12 and 17, but remains in a position to make up ground over the weekend.