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AAP
AAP
Steve Larkin

'It was tricky': star duo solid at Women's Aussie Open

Hannah Green has shot a two-under opening round at the Women's Australian Open in Adelaide. (Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOS)

Hannah Green has found it tricky and Minjee Lee found it messy as the local drawcards posted solid opening rounds at the Women's Australian Open.

Green carded a two-under 70, while Lee finished even par amid swirling winds at Adelaide's Kooyonga Golf Club on Thursday.

Wales' Darcey Harry set the pace with a stellar six-under 66, a shot ahead of Germany's Alexandra Fosterling, with Australia's Kelsey Bennett among a pack at three under.

Bennett's 69 featured five birdies, while 18-year-old South Australian amateur Raegan Denton's three over was highlighted by a hole-in-one on the 149 metre par-3 seventh.

"To have such a big crowd on that hole-in-one is awesome and I've never had one in a tournament before," Denton said.

"It's a really big moment ... I don't think there's any chance of me forgetting this any time soon."

World No.9 Green, who fired five birdies but also three bogeys in a group also including Lee, was satisfied with her first-up performance.

"It was tricky," Green said.

"Collectively as a group we struggled with some of the pin positions just to get it close, but also, once we were on there, to actually read the putt correctly.

"I felt like it's been a while since I've hit some putts and completely misread the putt ... but I'm pretty happy with two under par. It's very easy to make bogeys out here."

Darcey Harry.
Darcey Harry had five birdies and an eagle in her first round of the Women's Australian Open. (Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOS)

Triple major winner Lee was less content with a round punctuated by a double-bogey and two bogeys amid four birdies.

"I didn't hit it to the best of my ability, so hopefully tomorrow I can get something going a little bit better," the world No.4 said.

"My ball striking was a bit shaky here and there.

"But my putting was good, my short game was good, so if I can tidy it up a little bit in my long game, then I should be in a good position." 

Minjee Lee.
Minjee Lee had plenty of fans following her during the opening round at Kooyonga. (Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOS)

Lee and Green are among 31 Australians in the field hoping to become the nation's first winner of the Open since Karrie Webb's fifth title in 2014.

The decorated duo were outshone by compatriot Bennett, who last weekend triumphed at the Australian Women's Classic in her home state of NSW for her first victory on the Ladies European Tour.

"My ball striking was pretty solid again today and these greens are just so pure, if you get a good roll on them, they're likely to go in," Bennett said.

Another Australian major winner, Grace Kim, battled to three over in the strong afternoon winds.

And compatriot and playing partner Steph Kyriacou endured a horror round, with her nine-over 81 including two quadruple bogeys.

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