Steady starts for Walsh and Mehaffey in Morrocco

Lauren Walsh and Olivia Mehaffey both began with level par rounds of 73 at the Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco.

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A field of 108 players are competing in the 54-hole stroke play competition in Rabat, with the field cut to the top 60 and ties after round two.

One over at the turn, Mehaffey had an eventful back nine with four birdies and three bogeys.

Walsh posted a bogey and eight pars on the front nine, while successive birdies at 9 and 10 had her moving up the leaderboard.

Dropped shots at 15 and 16 halted her momentum but she responded well at the next for her third birdie of the day.

The pair are among a cluster of players tied for 25th with Mexico's Maria Fassi leading the way on day one on eight-under par after a round of 65.

Fassi showed off her explosive power and fine form with a bogey-free round to lead by three shots from home favourite Ines Laklalech.

The 25-year-old represented Mexico at the Tokyo Olympics is playing in the tournament for the first time.

"I don’t see many bogey free rounds so I am very proud of our work today," she said afterwards. "It was easy and we had fun."