KENT'S golfers were well in touch with the leader after the first day of the Chart Hills Ladies English Open in association with Golf Punk.

First-day leader was Sweden’s Linda Wessberg, whose six-under par 66 continued her country’s domination of the event – the last three Ladies English Opens have each been won by a Swede.

But Deal-born Karen Stupples, who was walking her first 18 holes of golf since November after giving birth to son Logan in April, was delighted with her one-under par 71 which featured just one dropped shot.

The former British Open champion said: “My legs and my feet are a little bit achy but part of that will be the wet ground too. I’m really happy with that considering it’s my first 18 since November.

“The course was superb. When you consider the amount of rain dumped on it it’s fantastic – the greens were rolling great, the fairways were good. We played lift, clean and place just to get the mud off the ball which made a difference. But otherwise the fairways were good enough to play anyway.”

Stupples, who now lives in Florida with husband and caddy Bobby Inman, believes the score gives her a good base from which to build.

“I’m looking for more of the same tomorrow,” she added. “I burned a little rust off today. The more I play the better it will be. I left a few shots out there too. It was a little bit frustrating at times. There were some decision-making issues – but the striking was pretty good.”

She was joined on one-under par by Chart Hills’ own Dani Masters whose round included three birdies and two bogies.

She said: “I played reasonably steady and holed a few putts but there’s always room for improvement. It’s quite difficult out there but I’m enjoying it. The course is the best I’ve ever seen it and it’s a real joy to play.”

One of the bogies was on her ninth hole, the course’s 18th.

“Lipping out on 18 was pretty gutting,” she added, “as I read the putt really well and I thought I hit it spot on. But it missed on the low side which you’re never happy about. However, you have to take the rough with the smooth.

“One under is a pretty good foundation for the rest of the week. You’re sort of under the radar a little bit. We’re off tomorrow afternoon so we can see what the other scores are from the morning and build on the birdie on nine (her 18th).”