By Tony Webeck

Sydney’s Stephanie Kyriacou is positioned to push for a second Ladies European Tour title this year after an opening round of four-under 68 at the Creekhouse Ladies Open in Sweden.

Currently second in the season-long Race to Costa Del Sol points race, Kyriacou’s round of 68 featured six birdies and two bogeys on the back nine to sit two back of Wales’ Chloe Williams (66) and level with Race to Costa Del Sol leader Atthaya Thitikul (68) of Thailand.

The moneylist front-runners were paired together alongside Marianne Skarpnord on day one and both picked up a birdie at the first to get the ball rolling at Kristianstad Golf Club.

Another birdie on five saw Kyriacou finish the front nine in 34 (-2), while Thitikul rolled in three more birdie putts on the third, seventh and eighth – as well as dropping a shot on the sixth – to get to the turn three shots under par.

Kyriacou endured an up-and-down back nine with four birdies and two bogeys on her card – including a dropped shot on the short par-4 15th after finding the water, but leaves her right in the mix after 18 holes. “It was a good day. I started with a birdie and finished with a birdie so I was happy with that,” said Kyriacou, the 2020 LET Rookie of the Year.

“I think I’m in a good spot but there’s still three days to go.

“It’s a new course for me, but I really like it and it’s really fitting to my eye so hopefully I can shoot a few more low ones.

“The wind wasn’t too high today so it made it easier than the practice rounds.”

Four birdies on the back nine enabled Queensland’s Amy Walsh to bounce back from a disappointing front nine to post two-over 74 for her opening round and level with Whitney Hillier, who had a run of four straight bogeys in her round of 74.

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