Adelaide: Australia's Katherine Kirk posted an eight-under 65 to lead a large foreign contingent in the LPGA/ALPG co-sanctioned Australian Open at Royal Adelaide yesterday.
Kirk carded eight birdies in a morning round and watched the afternoon players struggle in windy conditions to hold a two-stroke lead after the opening 18 holes.
Kirk, a 14-year professional who has made her living in the United States on the LPGA Tour, was outside the top 100 on the money list last year and has not won a big tournament since 2010.
But she rammed home three consecutive birdies and carried the momentum through to the finish in benign conditions to miss only four greens with a total of 24 putts.
Kirk leads the way, ahead of Americans Jane Park and Marissa Steen and Taiwan's Min Lee and South Korea's Chella Choi at six-under.
Scotland's Michele Thomson is a further shot back with Thailand's Pornanong Phatlum and American Lizette Salas.
World number two Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand played in the tougher conditions and began with a one-under 73 to remain in contention.
