Anna Foster and Sara Byrne start well in Morocco

Two Irish players find themselves inside the top 20 following the opening round of the Ladies European Tour season opener, the Lalla Meryem Cup, with American Brianna Navarrosa leading the way.

Navarrosa had a run of five birdies from the first to the fifth and also eagled the 15th to sit on six-under par after a fine opening showing.

Dublin's Anna Foster secured her LET card in December in Morocco and she enjoyed another fine day in the country as her first-round 70 left her right in the mix at three-under.

Birdies at the second and ninth had her out in 35 and she picked up further shots at the 11th and 15th with her sole bogey coming at the par-three 13th to leave her three off the lead.

Sara Byrne, who has full status on the Epson Tour this season and is targeting LPGA card for 2026, was just a further shot behind on two-under par.

Last year's Curtis Cup star had a real up and down round, particularly going out.

Starting at the 10th, her first nine holes contained three birdies, three bogeys and three pars with a further bogey at the seventh being offset by birdies at the first, third and fifth holes.

Annabel Wilson was bemoaning a double-bogey finish that saw her fall back to two-over par.

The Armagh golfer, who also started at the 10th, was on a hot streak of four birdies in five holes as she teed off on her last hole, but she undid much of her good work with a rough finish.

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Olivia Mehaffey grew up just a few miles down the road from Wilson, and the Down woman is beside her too on the scoreboard on two-over par.

Starting on the 10th, she was out in a two-over par 38 with her front nine containing two birdies and two bogeys.

Lauren Walsh was another player left to rue a poor finish as three dropped shots in