Woad and O'Keeffe lead the way at Portmarnock

Sara Byrne of Ireland tees off during a practice round ahead of the Women's Amateur Championship at Portmarnock Golf Club. Picture: Patrick Bolger/R&A via Getty Images

Lottie Woad of England and Farah O'Keeffe from the US lead the way after the opening round of the R&A Women's Amateur Championship at Portmarnock.

Woad, who won the Augusta National Women's Amateur title earlier this year, and O'Keeffe both shot rounds of three-under-par 69 at the famous Dublin links to lead by two shots from Savanah de Boch from Belgium and Meja Ortengren of Sweden.

Elm Park's Anna Foster was the leading Irish competitor after round one. Foster shot a stead round of 73, with just one birdie and two bogeys, to finish one shot better than Douglas' Sara Byrne. Byrne had an up and down round, starting with a double bogey on the 6,600 yard course. She then carded four birdies and four bogeys in the round of 74.

Lahinch's Aine Donegan, Kirkistown Castle's Beth Coulter, and Hermitage's Kate Lanigan all sit on four over par after the first round, in a tie for 31st. The top 64 players will qualify for the matchplay stages after Tuesday's second round.

The 36-hole final takes place on Saturday.