Maritz and Knight share lead

South African Laurette Maritz and Australia’s Anne-Marie Knight share the lead on five under par after the first round of the Estoril Ladies Open of Portugal.

The pair are one ahead of Denmark’s Carina Vagner, who is a stroke in front of a group which includes English duo Kirsty Taylor and Trish Johnson.

Maritz, who won the last time she visited Quinta Da Marinha in 1988 – albeit on a different course, carded a faultless 67.

“I think it helps when you’ve got good memories of a place but the last time I played around here was a very long time ago,” she said.

“It was perfect golf today. The greens were absolutely superb, the fairways were lovely, it was just absolutely magnificent – and not a single bogey.”

A birdie at the eighth saw her go out in 35 but she picked up another stroke at the 11th and three birdies in a row from the 15th helped her complete a back nine of 32.

Knight carded eight birdies and three bogeys, taking advantage of the calmer morning conditions after northerly gale-force winds wreaked havoc at the start of the week.

“It was nothing compared to what it has been like for the last couple of days,” she said.

Johnson, two shots off the lead, admitted she was disappointed with her round after a great start.

“I was four under after 14 holes and then I made a silly mistake at the 15th where I missed a putt from 12 inches,” she said.

“I felt I could have played much better today. I’m just feeling pretty frustrated.”

Taylor added: “I was disappointed when I woke up because it wasn’t windy. I really wanted the wind and I’m pleased now that the wind’s here.

“I play better in the wind and I know that a lot of girls struggle. I like it, hence my good rounds last year at Machynys (the venue of Taylor’s first victory in Wales).”