Aditi Ashok, making her Ladies European Tour debut as a pro, battled hard in windy conditions before returning a card of two-over 74, which placed her at a distant 60th at the end of the first day of the ISPS Handa New Zealand Women's Open at Clearwater GC here.
The 17-year-old, who won the LET Qualifying School last December, started well with two birdies on 10th and 12th after teeing off from the 10th. But gave away those gains on 13th and 14th and further bogeys came on 18th and first.
In between she birdied the 17th. A final bogey on seventh meant she ended the day at 74.
Meanwhile, the leaderboard saw the talented 22-year-old Dane Nicole Broch Larsen shoot a six under par round of 66 to take a one shot lead into tomorrow's second round.
Aditi needs a good second round to make the cut, which right now looks likely at one-over or two-over.
"The conditions were rather windy but I did okay to hang in. I did alright though. I felt I should have saved a couple of more shots. But I am focused and will look to creating more chances," said Aditi.
"I am enjoying playing at this level and I am sure I will learn a lot in my maiden season," added the Bangalore golfer.
Of the other two Indians, Vani Kapoor (75) at tied 75th still has a chance to make the cut, which comes in after the second round, while Amandeep Drall (83) looks certain to make an early exit.
Larsen will take a one shot lead into tomorrow's second round over the talented young French rookie Justine Dreher, who was impressive in her professional debut last week at the Oates Victorian Open finishing in fifth place.
Just a further shot back is French star Gwladys Nocera, herself a former winner of this championship here at Clearwater in 2012 and Scotland's Pamela Pretswell, who both shot four-under-par rounds of 68.
World number one and overwhelming tournament favourite Lydia Ko was the first to admit that she hadn't brought her 'A' game with her to Clearwater today, but such is the quality of the 18-year-old she was able to grind it out and shoot another sub 70 round at a course, where she had a course record 61 last year. She birdied her final hole of the day to shoot a three-under-par 69, the same score shot by her compatriot Cathryn Bristow.
After round two there will be a cut to 50 professionals plus ties and amateurs falling within the cut line. The third and final round will be played on Sunday.
