Dickens, Hall and Arricau share opening lead in Austria

Suzanne Dickens

“I made a few nice putts and it was very enjoyable,” she said. “I’m a good wind player and I gave myself lots of birdie chances. The putting made a big difference. I also had a good caddy in former Tour player Mardi Lunn.”

Arricau, who won the KLM and Estoril Ladies Opens within three weeks of one another in June, felt she putted well for the first time since her win in Portugal.

The 33-year-old from Pau acquired a shoulder injury during a mountain biking holiday at the end of June and explained that this is the first week that she had played without pain.

“At the Evian Masters, it was a nightmare and I almost withdrew,” Arricau said. “I was in bad shape at the Weetabix Women’s British Open too but this week it’s been a lot better.

“The wind didn’t give me too much trouble today but I played the back nine first, which is sheltered by trees. I think that could have helped my score.”

Davies, for whom a good week could go a long way to cementing her seventh New Star Money List title, began her campaign with a bogey at her first hole, the par-three tenth. However she birdied three of the four par-fives on the golf course to forge her way into contention.