The warm sunshine at Dubbo Golf Club might be far cry from what you would expect in the United Kingdom, but it was two Scottish players who felt the most at home out west on Thursday.
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Michele Thomson and Gemma Dryburgh starred during the Women's NSW Open first round and finished the opening round as co-leaders.
The pair both shot 67 to finish at -5 for the day, putting them in prime position for the three days of play ahead.
Thomson hit six birdies and three bogeys in her round while Dryburgh hit seven birdies and four bogeys.
Earlier in the day, Sweden's Camilla Lennarth and Olivia Cowan of Germany had set the pace.
The pair were the clubhouse leaders for much of the day after each shooting -4 and finished the day in a share of second.
Three players, including Australian Breanna Gill, are a further shot back at -3.
The narrow fairways proved a challenge for all players, with Lennarth saying the Dubbo course was the most narrow she'd played in a very long time.
Lennarth also had plenty of praise for the atmosphere around the course on Thursday, as well.
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There was plenty of excitement around all day but it peaked at around 12.25pm on the first tee.
That was when hometown hope Ella Murray stepped up to the first tee.
The teenage talent had been given a special invite to take part in the elite event and while she didn't feature towards the top of the leaderboard at any stage in the first round, she had as much support as any of the other 155 players who took to the Dubbo course.
Murray finished the opening round at +12, giving her a mountain to climb if she is to make the cut after Friday's second round.
Murray wasn't the only one to battle at times on the fairways, with some of the big name players starting the Open on the slower side.
Two-time defending champion Meghan MacLaren and Australian teen sensation Steph Kyriacou were part of one of the marquee groupings but the pair both finished the day at +3.
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Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
