New South Wales Sarah Kemp fired a three-under-par 70 to be just back from the leader, Spain’s Carlota Ciganda, after the opening round of the Turkish Airlines Ladies Open.

Kemp carded five birdies and two bogeys in her round at the National Golf club in Belek, Antalya. The 27-year-old birdied four out of the five par 5 on the par 73 layout.

The Spaniard showed the way as she shot a four-under-par 69, mixing five birdies with one bogey on a warm and cloudy day.

“I’m very happy with my round. I think it’s a good start with four-under today. I played very solid today, hitting lots of fairways and greens and then I made a few putts out there so I think it’s a good result to start here,” said last year’s European No.1 Ciganda.

Four players, including Kemp, who all played in the morning, ended the day a shot behind at three-under. The players also sharing second place include South African Lee-Anne Pace, Carmen Alonso of Spain and Norwegian Cecilie Lundgreen.

The defending champion, Christel Boeljon from the Netherlands, who won back-to-back titles in 2011 and 2012, was part of a group of three players at two-under 71.

Rebecca Artis is the next best placed Australian, she carded at one-over par 74 and is tied for 25th position. ACT’s Nikki Campbell, Queenland’s Bree Arthur and WA’s Whitney Hillier and New Zealand’s Cathryn Bristow are all a two-over and tied for 37th.

South Australians Stephanie Na and Sarah King posted rounds of 77 and share 72nd position. Victorian Alison Whitaker, New South Wales Karen Lunn and Nikki Garrett have some worked to do to make the cut. Whitaker (79) and Lunn (79) are tied for 96th, while Garrett (81) is tied for 110th.