Tseng and Hull out in front

Last updated: 30th July 2010

First-day eagles at the 18th by Taiwan's Yani Tseng and Australia's Katherine Hull has enabled the two to share the lead in Thursday'as first round of the Ricoh Women's British Open at Royal Birkdale.

A two-time Major winner at 21, Tseng, from Taiwan hit all 18 greens on her way to a bogey-free opening round in Southport, England.

She birdied the par-five sixth to reach the turn in 34, before picking up another shot at the par-five 17th. She then holed an eagle putt from 12 yards at the par-five 18th for an inward nine of 34.

"I played really solid today," said Tseng, who won the Handa Women's Australian Open in March.and whose Major triumphs are the 2008 McDonalds LPGA Championship and the 2010 Kraft Nabisco Championship.

The World No.5 added: "I hit 18 greens on this golf course, so I didn't miss any greens. I putted well. I feel good that I made the birdie, eagle to finish. The last two holes for me are very reachable. It was par holes for me, so I feel okay, relaxed."

Hull, the 2009 ANZ Ladies Masters champion, dropped a shot at the par-three fourth hole, but picked up shots at the seventh and ninth for an outward nine of 34. She moved within two of the leader with a birdie at the 10th and then eagled the 18th at around 8pm.

A shot back, Caudal, the 2008 Portugal Ladies Open champion from France, started with a bogey at the par-four first, playing as the most difficult hole with only two birdies on it all day.

Her round sparkled into life as she birdied the fifth and sixth holes, before adding a third birdie at the 11th and a fourth at the par-five 18th, playing as the easiest on the course.

Caudal finished third in her last start on the LET at the Tenerife Ladies Open a month ago and kept her momentum going on a blowy afternoon.

The 26-year-old from Ciboure in the Basque Country revealed that she loves links golf as well as rugby and handball.

"I really enjoy the play and on the Links golf course," Caudal said. "I like very much this course. I'm really confident, so I know I can do it."

The rest of the chasing group included Korea's Amy Yang and Sun Young-yoo, as well as America's Brittany Lincicome.

Lincicome had looked set for a tough day when she dropped three shots on the first two holes, but responded with six birdies over the remainder of her round.

American Michelle Wie replicated Tseng's birdie-eagle finish to round off the day on two under, where she was joined by In-Kyung Kim.

England's Laura Davies and Scotland's Janice Moodie were the leading British contenders, ending the day as part of a large group at level par.

Vikki Laing, another Scot, and Becky Brewerton of Wales were at one over.