Lauren Walsh in touch with the leaders at Jabra Ladies Open

Ireland's Lauren Walsh is three shots off the lead after the first round of the Jabra Ladies Open at Evian-les-Bains in France.

Walsh, who secured her first top-10 finish last week at the Amundi German Masters, continued her impressive form with a 2-under round of 69.

With three birdies and just one bogey in her opening round, Walsh is three shots behind overnight leaders Agathe Sauzon and Ines Laklalech, who sit atop the leaderboard on 5-under.

Olivia Mehaffey had a round to forget and signed for a 6-over round of 77. In testing conditions, the Co. Down woman bogeyed nine of the 18 holes with three birdies preventing further damager.

With a place at the Amundi Evian Championship - the only major championship in continental Europe this year - up for grabs for the winner, competition if fierce and local favourite Sauzon is eager to return to this venue for the major in seven weeks time.

"I have never played in the Amundi Evian Championship," she said. "I have played in majors, twice in the AIG Women's Open, but this one is my favourite and I would love to play in it. That would be a good goal, for sure."