Level-par start for Leona Maguire at the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship in California

Leona Maguire sits seven shots off first-round leader Maude-Aimee LeBlanc after opening with a level-par 71 at the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship in California.

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The 29-year-old was level at the turn, a birdie at the third balanced that out but then came a dropped shot at the seventh. On the back nine the Cavan native carded two more birdies and bogeys to close for 71 and is tied for 44th overall.

It means she will start the second round seven adrift of LeBlanc, a 35-year-old Canadian who has never won an LPGA event. She holds a one-shot lead over the field.

LeBlanc shot a bogey-free round of 64 at Palos Verdes Golf Club, with Malia Nam just behind.

LeBlanc birdied two of her first three holes, then added three consecutive birdies to complete the front nine. She birdied both of the par-five holes on the back nine.

"I felt like I hit the ball really well today and whenever I missed the green I was able to make up and down," she said afterwards.

"I made some really good saves and just kept the momentum going throughout the round, so, yeah, the putting was good as well.

LeBlanc missed the cut in both of her previous starts this year, and she made just three cuts in seven events last year, topped by a tie for 13th at this event last year.