Rebecca Artis is just two shots off the lead after the first round of the UniCredit Ladies German Open presented by Audi near Munich.

Artis posted a three-under-par round of 69 at the Golfpark Gut Hausern near Munich. On a relatively dry but overcast day, which included the occasional shower the talented Australian’s round included an eagle on the par 4 13th holed, two birdies and a bogey. Artis is one of 14 four players sharing 10th position.

Five players sit atop of the leaderboard, England’s Charley Hull, Denmark’s Line Vedel, Austrian Stefanie Michl, Frenchwoman Celine Herbin and 2011 champion Diana Luna.

Four players finished the day a stroke back on four-under-par including Carlota Ciganda, Rebecca Hudson, Nontaya Srisawang and the 2009 event champion Jade Schaeffer.

It was a great opening round by the Australian contingent, Artis is leading the way, but Nikki Campbell, Bree Arthur and Stacey Keating are a further shot back and are part of a group of 21 players who are tied for 14th position. New Zealand’s Cathryn Bristow is also at two-under-par. Fellow compatriots Karen Lunn, Nikki Garrett and Whitney Hillier all posted opening rounds of 71 to be in another large group of players tied for 35th position.

The projected cut is even par, Australians Stephanie Na, Kristie Smith and Sarah King are all at two-over and tied for 86th, while Alison Whitaker is a further shot back and tied for 100th. The four of them have some work to do in the second round if they want to play on the week-end, but they all have the talent to post low rounds in Friday’s second round.

Last year’s winner Anne-Lise Caudal shot a solid opening round of two-under-par but the 2010 champion Laura Davies didn’t fare as well. Four-under after 12 holes, she then slipped back to one-over-par after dropping five shots over the closing holes.