Golf: Norwegian holds two-shot lead in NZ Women's Open

A sensational front nine of seven-under 29 provided the foundation for a seven-under 65 by Norwegian golfer Marianne Skarpnord, who has a two-shot lead after the first round of the New Zealand Women's Open at Pegasus Town, near Christchurch, today.

The 24-year-old Skarpnord started spectacularly with eight successive threes, one of which was an eagle at the par-5 446m fifth hole. She was seven-under after seven and missed a 15-foot putt for birdie at the ninth that would have given her a record 28 for nine holes in an European Ladies Tour (LET) event.

A stiff northeasterly wind presented Skarpnord with a harder challenge on the more testing back nine and she put the 29 to the back of her mind and concentrated on every shot, playing the back nine in par 36 with her only bogey at the 12th which was offset by a birdie at the 15th.

Skarpnord is two shots to the good of American Diana D'Alessio, who birdied her last two holes to take second outright, a shot ahead of South African, Ashleigh Simon, Korean An-Na Oh, and West Australian Kristie Smith, who shot her 68 when the wind blew from the north-west in the morning.

On three-under 69 and tied for sixth were Dutchwoman Dewi-Claire Schreefel, multiple international winner, Laura Davies (England) and Australian Sarah Kemp, who tied for second last year.

The leading New Zealand trio after rounds of one-under 71 were Wellington professional, Sarah Nicholson, and amateurs, Zoe Brake (Whakatane) and 12-year-old Lydia Ko (Pupuke).

Skarpnord, in her seventh year as a professional after an amateur career which was highlighted by her victory in the 2003 British Girls Championship and being a member of the winning European Junior Solheim Cup the same year, had her best year on the LET Tour in 2009 when she won twice and had seven other top-10 finishes.

She was laid back after her 65 today, saying she holed a "couple of long putts, felt comfortable throughout and had a lot of fun with her new caddy".

"I didn't think about it (29) as the wind picked up for our last 12 to 13 holes and I had to focus on every shot. I was just trying to get the ball in the hole."

Skarpnord she intended doing nothing different in the second round.

"I'll forget what happened today and start all over again. I feel confident but I won't be thinking about holding my score together - I'll go out and have fun."

D'Alessio, winner of more than $US1.2 million on the LPGA Tour in America, never had a bogey. Starting off the back nine, she birdied 13 and 15 and went three-under after her third birdie at the fourth.

She finished with a flourish with birdies at the eighth and ninth. After tomorrow's second round, the field of 130 will be cut to the top 65 and ties.