Walker leads in Helsinki

Scotland’s Kylie Walker shot 64 to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the Finnair Masters in Helsinki.

The Glasgow-born 23-year-old, in her first season on the Ladies European Tour, recorded three birdies in an outward nine of 31 and added four more on the way home in a blemish-free seven-under-par round.

Having struggled since coming through December’s qualifying school in La Manga, Walker admitted: “Having had a good result in Q-School, I thought this is a doddle. As a matter of fact, my first few events, I really struggled. I was just so nervous and excited at the same time and different things were distracting me.

“Simple things like walking on the range and people you’ve idolised for years like Carin Koch and Laura Davies are standing next to you walking past. I can’t help but look to see what they’re doing and things like that but I’m getting used to that now.”

South Africa’s Lee-Ann Pace lies second after a five-under-par 66 after starting from the 10th hole.

Four birdies and an eagle at the 17th put her in a strong position but she was unable to keep her momentum going after turning onto the front nine and a dropped shot at the eighth left her two behind.

Pace leads the tour money list after tying for second in last week’s Aberdeen Ladies Scottish Open and is hoping to extend her 13,660 euro lead over England’s Melissa Reid, absent this week.

Pace’s compatriot Morgana Robbertze features in an otherwise Scandinavian group tied for third at four under, alongside Danes Lisa Holm Sorensen and Malene Jorgensen and Swedish amateur Caroline Hedwall.

Robbertze attributed her career-best round to an unusual training drill on the eve of the tournament – practising barefoot in the rain.

“My coach told me to stand and hit golf balls without my shoes on and that seemed to work,” she said.

Scotland’s Vikki Laing, Finland’s Kaisa Ruuttila, England’s Kiran Matharu and Jade Schaeffer from France were tied for seventh on three-under-par.