EVIAN-LES-BAINS, July 21, 2011 (AFP) - Swede Maria Hjorth, South Korea's Ahn Shin-Ae and England's Karen Stupples shared the lead after carding five under par 67s on a weather-beaten opening day at the Evian Masters.
The trio led by one from a group of six that included the 2009 winner, Ai Miyazato, and former US Open Champion, Cristie Kerr.
With heavy showers and low temperatures making conditions far from pleasant, Hjorth made her move with a glorious outward half of five under par 31 and continued the stunning scoring spree with a run of three birdies in four holes from the 11th.
But the 37-year-old then dropped shots at the last three holes, missing greens at the 15th and 16th and then finding bunker trouble at the last.
"I didn't finish the way I would have liked," conceded the five-time Tour winner.
"But I played solid all day and putted great holing quite a few over 20 feet. This is my 15th time here and I think the course is as good as it has eve been."
Stupples hit out of bounds and ran up a double-bogey seven at the ninth to reach the turn in a less than impressive one over par 37.
But the 2004 Women's British Open Champion then hit a purple streak and came home in 30 with birdies at the tenth, 11th and 13tth and again at the final three holes.
"The weather was really grim and it took me a while to adjust," said Stupples, who comes from Deal in Kent and worked for BBC Radio at last week's Open Championship at Royal St George's.
"But I got into gear n the back nine. Being at the Open last week was a real inspiration.
"Darren Clarke played great and the player who really inspired me was Tom Watson. He's not as long as the younger guys, but he still hits such wonderful shots."
Ahn, who was the 2009 Korean LPGA Rookie of the Year, made her five under par round in less rocky style. She packed seven birdies into halves of 34 and 33.
Japan's Miyazato had a top ten finish at this month's US Women's Open and she continued her fine form with six birdies in a 68.
The 26-year-old was hit hard by the Japanese earthquake disaster that hit her home city of Sendai in March.
"Everyone I knew was OK but it did make it difficult to focus on golf," said the Californian-based former world No.1 who has helped raise around $130,000 for the Earthquake Disaster Fund.
"But I'm now feeling better and today I stayed patient and controlled my golf."
France's Virginie Lagoutte-Clement helped her chase for a Solheim Cup debut in Ireland in September with an opening 69 for a share tenth place in a group that also included the defending champion, Korea's Shin Jiyai and Taiwan's world No.1, Yani Tseng. Lagoutte-Clement made a horrible start with three bogeys in the first four holes but recovered with three birdies in each half.
"It was tough to start," said the Montelimar golfer.
"But I was so pleased with the way I bounced back."
Leading first round at the Evian Masters USLPGA and LET golf championship here on Thursday (par 72):
67 - Karen Stupples (GBR), Maria Hjorth (SWE), Ahn Shin-Ae (KOR)
68 - Ryu Ritsuko (JPN), Ai Miyazato (JPN), Brittany Lincicome (USA), Cristie Kerr (USA), Miki Saiki (JPN), Feng Shanshan (CHN)
69 - Shin Jiyai (KOR), Virginie Lagoutte-Clement (FRA), Hong Ran (KOR), Park Inbee (KOR), Ji Eun-Hee (KOR), Stacy Lewis (USA), Yani Tseng (TPE)
70 - Ayako Uehara (JPN), Angela Stanford (USA), Pat Hurst (USA), Natalie Gulbis (USA), Sandra Gal (GER), Paula Creamer (USA), Alexis Thompson (USA), Lee Ji-Woo (KOR)
71 - Lee Seon Hwa (KOR), Mika Miyazato (JPN), Karrie Webb (AUS), Lee Meena (KOR), Paige Mackenzie (USA), Sophie Gustafson (SWE), Kim Song-Hee (KOR), Yuri Fudoh (JPN), Shiho Oyama (JAP), Rikako Morita (JAP), Park Hee Young (KOR), Stacy Prammanasudh (USA), Ryann O'Toole (USA), Pak Se Ri (KOR), Morgan Pressel (USA), Catriona Matthew (GBR)