Lauren Walsh is just four shots off the lead after the opening round of the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed, with the Kildare woman carding a five-under-par 67 at Vasatorps Golfklubb.
Walsh, whose place at the tournament was only confirmed on Monday, registered five birdies in a bogey-free round to continue her excellent rookie season on the Ladies European Tour.
Hometown hope and former champion Linn Grant also sits on five under, with Walsh and Grant faring best of the women in the unisex event.
Grant's compatriot Sebastian Soderberg shot a flawless 63 to lead overall, carding an eagle and seven birdies to open up a two-shot lead over South Africa’s Dylan Frittelli and England’s Alex Fitzpatrick, who were also bogey-free on seven under in an event which sees 78 men and 78 women compete for one prize fund and one trophy.
Reflecting on her unlikely place at the tournament, Walsh told the LET website: "I checked the reserve list last week and I was way down, so I didn't think there was a chance I was playing.
"I went back to Copenhagen on Sunday to fly home on Monday morning, but then I was first reserve so I knew I was coming back and seeing if I can get a chance to get in. I woke up Monday morning and I was in!
"It’s been great. Watching the guys rip it up on the range is pretty cool and it’s such a cool atmosphere around. It feels like a bigger stage. I have loved it.
"I got off to a good start being three-under through six and then the wind really picked up, so I was just hanging on for a while. I hit it pretty nicely, so it was pretty stress-free.
"If I did miss a green, I was on the fringe putting and the one green I did miss long in the rough I chipped it to a foot which was very stress-free and that’s nice in golf, they don’t come around too often."
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