Updated Stephanie Meadow two off the lead after opening round at the AIG Women's Open

Stephanie Meadow is the best of the Irish on one-under par after the opening round of the AIG Women's Open at Walton Heath, with Leona Maguire a shot further back in what is a tightly packed leaderboard for the final major of the year.

Meadow began with six straight pars, before making birdie on seven. Dropped shots followed on 11 and 15 but successive birdies on 16 and 17 saw her sign for a round of 71

In advance of the final major of the season, Maguire admitted that it would be "a very different British Open test than we've had the last few years". Certainly a different test to the links course at Muirfield last year, with Walton Heath playing longer due to the recent wet conditions.

"You're just going to have been patient and take your chances where you get them," Maguire added.

The Cavan golfer, like Meadow began with six straight pars, before making birdie on the par-four seventh. A bogey four on the ninth followed and then another dropped shot came on 14. Maguire, however, got back to level on 16 after a third shot from the deep bunker left her with a short birdie put which she duly tapped in for a round of 72.

Amateur Anna Foster was among the later starters and is currently out on the course.

South Korea's Jeongeun Lee, Jaravee Boonchant from Thailand, Denmark’s Emily Kristine Pedersen and French player Perrine Delacour share the clubhouse lead on three under after rounds of 69.

Additional reporting: PA

ROUND 1 LEADERBOARD