Flying Finn heads leaderboard logjam

Ursula Wikstrom fired a three-under 70 to move one stroke clear of the chasing pack after round one of the 2008 Women's Australian Open at Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne.

The Finn started on a hot streak and was three-under after just six holes, but the scoring slowed when the rain came tumbling down. Although Wikstrom went four-under just after the turn, consecutive bogeys brought her back to the rest of the field but a steadying birdie on her 14th hole restored the buffer.

She is being chased by a pack of three players on two-under including Kiwi Sarah Nicholson, Korean Hee Young Park and Aussie young gun Katherine Hull who plies her trade on the LPGA Tour.

The Queenslander was on song early, starting her championship with back-to-back birdies and consolidating her position with a streak of pars. Further birdies on her 12th and 15th holes of the day put her at four-under before a double bogey cost the Aussie dearly on the par-four seventh; her 16th.

Despite the setback, Hull was upbeat with her performance.

“Overall I was pretty happy with it,” she said.

“Today was the first day of the tournament and if I can put three good rounds together, hopefully I will be holding up the trophy at the end of the week.”

A group of six players are locked at one-under including defending champion Karrie Webb.

The seven-time Major winner was on a rollercoaster ride throughout most of her round, trading birdies and bogeys throughout. Back-to-back birdies shortly after the turn gave Webb the impetus to post a very competitive 72 in tricky scoring conditions.

“It was a bit tough,” the champ said.

“It was not the nice, warm, sunny day you’d like to play for your first round of the year but I’ll take one-under. I am pretty happy with the way things turned out today.

“I’d like it to be sunny, I’d like to see the quality of my ball striking improve and if that happens and I continue to putt the ball as well as I did today, I should be in pretty good shape.”

Second round action gets underway on Friday morning from 7:30am (AEDT).

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