Cavan's Leona Maguire has continued her good run of form on the LPGA Tour by firing a 7 under 65 to share the lead at the Meijer Classic.
Former world amateur number one Maguire has begun to find her groove on the circuit.
She finished in the top ten in San Francisco last week and that solid play continued in Michigan, as she produced a blemish-free opening round to lie at the top alongside Nasa Hataoka, Charley Hull and Lauren Stephenson.
Stephanie Meadow is back on 1 over par.
Shane Lowry is playing at the US Open this week, but his former caddie Dermot Byrne is now on the bag with Maguire, and she feels that this week's course at Blythefield Country Club is similar to those in Ireland.
"It's very similar to the courses we sort of get in Dublin," she said.
"Tree-lined, yeah, like Elm Hermitage, Elm Park, ones I would've grown up playing junior golf.
"It's nice when you sort of have that familiar ID even though it's a new place. So, yeah, a little warmer than home this week, but at the same time, it's nice to have those good pictures."
With three top tens on the LPGA Tour this season, Maguire has jumped 108 places to number 88 in the last 12 months in the women's world ranking.
She says it's just a matter of becoming comfortable on the LPGA circuit.
"I mean, it was kind of the opposite last year. I didn't really start the event as strong and usually have a strong weekend. So kind of flipped that this year, so I just need to put the two together. Hopefully, I can do that in the next few weeks.
"Just getting more comfortable I think. I've been in a few big groups last few weeks especially, and really happy with how I've managed that and sort of stuck to my own game plan as well.
"Been doing it for most the tournaments now. Just a case of trying to do it and, like I said, put four rounds together."
