Matthew among front-runners

Britain’s Catriona Matthew was one of only half a dozen players to break par as she continued her record as a US Women’s Open form horse today at Prairie Dunes in Kansas.

The Scot, who tied for fourth last year, shot a three-birdie one-under-par 69 to stand two shots behind the three leaders, Australia’s Shani Waugh and Americans Laura Diaz and Juli Inkster.

But it was a nightmare start for Karrie Webb. Aiming to become the first three in a row winner, the Australian shot a 79, and was at a loss to explain her collapse.

‘‘I’m totally shocked,’’ said the winner of the Rochester International two weeks ago. ‘‘I came here feeling so good, and this is completely out of the blue. But I just never got into the flow.’’

Another Scot, Mhairi McKay, was in a group alongside world No 1 Annika Sorenstam on 70, while Laura Davies, the 1987 champion, struggled to find her best form with a 75. Alison Nicholas, the only other Briton to have lifted the title, in 1997, had a 72.

Matthew started at the 10th and made an early blunder with a double-bogey six at the 13th where she found trouble in the rough. But it was her only mistake as she went on to reel off birdies at the 17th, 18th and seventh.

‘‘I felt I was playing well so I wasn’t too upset about the double-bogey,’’ she said. ‘‘It’s such a tough course that you know everyone is going to make mistakes and suffer somewhere.

‘‘But I’m delighted to shoot sub-70 in the first round, although we were lucky today because the wind wasn’t blowing as much as was forecast.’’