Johanna Head takes early advantage

England's Joanna Head got off to a perfect start in the £1 million Weetabix Women's British Open as she fired a four under par 68 over the Old Course at Sunningdale, taking the early clubhouse lead during the first round before torrential rain stopped play this afternoon.

Head is tied with England's Laura Davies and Scotland's Janice Moodie. Germany's Elisabeth Esterl is one shot further back and fifteen players are bunched on two under par including Scot Catriona Matthew, who eagled the last hole after hitting "a little seven iron" into the hole for a two.

The 28-year-old, who was born two miles away in Ascot, has played the course "thousands of times" and began her day in the good weather with a flawless front nine of 33, a fine start in only her second major championship.

Birdies at the second, sixth and ninth holes lifted her up the leaderboard, adding another birdie on the 10th.

Her first dropped shot came at the 12th where she found trouble from the tee, but the twin sister of fellow Evian Tourist Samantha responded with back-to-back birdies at the 14th and 15th to move to five under for the day.

Just a three putt at the last marred an otherwise excellent performance on a course she knows so well, having played in the Sunningdale Foursomes with her sister over the last few years.

"Sam and I play the Sunningdale matches every year," said Head. "We reached the final last year and had to play seven matches in four days, so I have gotten to know the greens very well.

"I think today it's helped me a lot because there were many tricky pin positions out there and knowing the greens so well has helped so much."

Davies made a fast start in the event she would love to win so much again and add the final two points she needs to enter the World Golf Hall of Fame.

The 38-year-old from nearby West Byfleet, and who won this event in 1986, birdied the first two holes, both short par fives. She dropped her first shot at the third but rallied with further red figures at the sixth, eighth and 11th to move to four under.

Moodie, looking for her first major win, carded a flawless front nine of 32 with birdies at the first, third, fourth and eighth, adding a par at the 10th just before the claxon sounded for suspension of play. Sixty-nine players are still yet to complete the first round including World number two Annika Sorenstam, currently two under par after 11 holes, playing alongside Davies.

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