Maguire and Meadow struggle in California

Leona Maguire and Stephanie Meadow struggled on day one as England's Charley Hull made an encouraging start to the Palos Verdes Championship while Australia's Minjee Lee hit the front by equalling the lowest round of her LPGA Tour career.

After finishing in a tie for third place at last week's DIO Implant LA Open, Lee carded a bogey-free eight-under-par 63, featuring eight birdies, to sit atop the leaderboard at Palos Verdes Club.

World number one Jin Young Ko is a shot further back after recovering from a bogey early into her round to also register eight birdies, including six in a row on her back nine at one stage.

Hull, meanwhile, is among three players to post 65 - posting eight birdies, including four in a row from the second, and two bogeys - to sit alongside Jennifer Chang and Moriya Jutanugarn.

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"It was really good," Hull said in quotes on Sky Sports. "I played well. I was hitting it close, so there wasn't any hard birdie putts.

"I have been playing well this season so far, so feel like my game is in good shape."

It was a more difficult day for the Irish contingent in Calafornia.

Maguire will start her second row near the bottom of the leaderboard after a three-over-par round of 74.

Birdies at the second and 11th holes were rare rays of light on a card that included five bogeys in all.

Meadow is one shot better at two-over par with a double-bogey on 15 really hampering her progress.

Additional reporting: PA