Steady start for Maguire as Thitikul impresses

Leona Maguire opened with a level-par 72 at the BMW Women's Championship in South Korea as Atthaya Thitikul stormed to the top of the leaderboard with a blistering nine-under-par round.

That score is a tournament record for the event that is being played at Oak Valley Country Club.

The Thailand golfer hit seven birdies in all, with an eagle at the 13th ensuring a wonderful start to the competition with no blemishes recorded on her card.

Maguire had three bogeys on her card, but birdies at the third, sixth and 14th holes leaves her sitting just outside the top 40 heading into the second round.

FULL LEADERBOARD

Stephanie Meadow is a further two shots back with a double bogey at the 13th proving particularly harmful to her score.

Ko Jin-young made her reaction in front of her home fans after two months out with injury, but it was a round to forget as she finished eight-over.