Leona Maguire ten off the lead after Saudi opening round

Leona Maguire sits tens shots off the pace following the opening round of the Aramco Saudi Ladies International in Riyadh.

It was a disappointing start to the Ladies European Tour event for the Cavan golfer who made five bogeys with the solitary birdie arriving on the par-four tenth hole.

Playing in tricky blustery conditions, three of Maguire's dropped shots came as a result of three-putts on a day where the short stick remained cold in the Saudi heat.

Maguire sits in a share of 66th place heading into the second round knowing that she will need to go low on Friday to attempt to play her way back into the tournament.

Patty Tavatanakit fired an opening round of six-under 66 to hold a one-shot lead at the Riyadh Golf Club.

The major champion began her round from the 10th and got off to a hot start rolling in four birdies in a row before making another birdie on the 15th. She dropped her only shot of the day on the 16th hole.

The Thai star then made two more birdies on the first and eighth holes to seal her round of six-under-par in very windy conditions.

"I really think I just blacked out the first four holes, but I was really proud of the way I played today," she said. "It was really, really tough conditions. The commitment was like 110%, which is what I've been working on this off-season a lot."

Paula Reto is in second place on the leaderboard just one shot back after she produced a round of 67.

The South African also only had one dropped shot on the first day of the tournament, rolling in six birdies.

"Especially with the conditions I thought to myself, par is a good round, but I gave myself some good opportunities and committed to the lines of the targets off the tee and to the green," said Reto. "Next thing you know, a couple