Stephanie Meadow continued her promising start to the LPGA Tour season with a fast finish in the opening round of the $1.3 million ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open.

The Jordanstown star (28) followed a birdie at the fourth with two more at the 17th and 18th to post a three-under 70 at Royal Adelaide for her fourth bogey-free round this year. 

Scores

She is tied for 19th, just four shots behind England's Jodi Ewart Shadoff (32), who took advantage of the prime scoring conditions to post a seven-under 66 for a one-stroke lead over major champions and Korean compatriots Inbee Park and Jeongeun Lee6.

Having made the cut with ease in her first two starts of the season —she was tied 35th in the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio and tied 20th in the Vic Open last week— the Team Ireland star is looking to put four strong days together Down Under.

"I'm very happy with the start, and hopefully there's more good golf to come," said Meadow, who showed her fighting qualities by salvaging her card with a tied sixth finish in her final event of the 2019 season

“I was very steady today and hit a lot of good shots. A few more putts might have dropped, but overall I'm happy with the start."

It was a tougher day for Slieve Russell rookie Leona Maguire (25), who finished a brilliant joint fourth, just a shot outside a playoff, in only her second start on the LPGA Tour in last week's ISPS Handa Vic Open. 

The Co Cavan star struggled to hit greens but scrambled well to mix two bogeys with a birdie and  end the opening day tied for 90th on one-over after a 74, leaving her eight shots off the pace.

“I was nice to start with really good conditions obviously," said leader Ewart Shadoff, who is making her sixth Women's Australian Open appearance.

"It got a little breezy at the end. But I played really solid, hit the ball good, and a few putts dropped, so it was nice."

Horrific bushfires have devastated parts of Australia and Kangaroo Island, which sits just off the Adelaide coastline, was particularly ravaged with two people and thousands of animals killed.

”Really happy to make seven birdies, "said Ewart Shadoff, who is donating $100 per birdie to a relief fund set up by Golf Australia.

"I'm donating to the Adelaide Koala Rescue this week for birdies, so it's nice to make a ton of birdies today.”