Davies and Gustafson lead the way in style

Golf Women's Irish Open: Scoring was as hot as the weather conditions in Kerry yesterday as England's Laura Davies and Sophie Gustafson from Sweden entertained the galleries at Killarney Golf and Fishing Club with a feast of birdies and eagles on the opening day of the €165,000 Ladies Irish Open.

The pair, both of whom are chasing their third Irish Open title, leapt to the top of the leaderboard with a brace of seven under-par 66s. They lead by one shot from England's Trish Johnson, who hit 17 greens in regulation, missed only one fairway and saw her birdie putt at the last lip out as she breezed in with a 67.

One shot back on five under is Marine Monnet from France who had six birdies. Defending champion Iben Tinning from Denmark sits in a group of 10 players on four under par, which includes Sweden's Carin Koch, a mother for the second time last April, who completed her third round of golf since November and admitted to "surprising herself" as she hit six birdies and two bogeys.

Hazel Kavanagh leads the home challenge on leval par 73. Susanne O'Brien and former Irish champion Rebecca Coakley are a shot back on one over-par with Yvonne Cassidy on four over-par 77 while Lynn McCool and amateur Gillian O'Leary are on 78.

Davies, Gustafson and Tinning were the group to watch and the trio, arguably the three biggest hitters in women's golf, fired 18 birdies and an eagle between them.

Davies's round was flawless, seven birdies, including all the five par fives and the European Order of Merit leader signed off with a birdie two at the 18th.

"It's very nice to have a round like that, without a bogey," admitted Davies. "It's what I have desperately been trying to do and this week, no bogeys is a good start.Every time I come back to Europe, I feel I have a great chance. The par fives are much shorter and there are a couple of giveaway holes and you don't quite get that in America and I feel really comfortable with it."

Gustafson, winner of this title in 1998 and 2000, also returned to European shores in blistering form with six birdies and an eagle at the 13th hole.

"That was good," said Gustafson, who admitted she wants to make a move up the Solheim Cup rankings. "My long irons were working well today and all of the par fives were in range for me. I don't know why I always play well in Ireland, but it's probably because the courses are so good, the people are friendly and I enjoy the atmosphere out here.

"I'd love a good week here, I'd like to get some more Solheim Cup points and 40 of them would be very nice this week!"