Rolex Ranked World Number 2 Norwegian Suzann Pettersen posted a 6-under par 66 to take a one shot lead from the first round at the ISPS HANDA Women’s Australian Open at Victoria Golf Club in Melbourne.

Pettersen made the most of the excellent morning conditions, shooting nine birdies and three bogeys on the way to the lead over a group of four players tied in second place.

“I felt like I played good and gave myself a lot of good chances, putted, for the most part, well. It was a little bit of a mixture but 66 opening round, I`m very, very happy,” Pettersen said.

The 32 year-old will take over the World Number 1 position if she finishes in second place or higher this week.

“I really just want to see how good I can be. I know I`m good. If I play like I did today and trust my swing and trust what I`m working on, I just want to see how far I can get and I don`t really measure myself up against other players, they`re just my competitors,” Pettersen said.

Americans Jessica Korda and Jaclyn Sweeney, Korean Hee Young Park and France’s Marion Ricordeau all posted 5-under par 67s to be tied in second place.

A log-jam of players are tied in sixth place at 4-under par including American Paula Creamer, Kiwi Lydia Ko and Spain’s Azahara Munoz.

Ko said she was pleased with her start.

“It was a really good round. I made a couple of silly mistakes like making a bogey on 8, which was a par 5. Most of the time you make a birdie, then a bogey, so I was a little upset about that but then I kind of finished it well with another birdie,” she said.

Sarah-Jane Smith and amateur Minjee Lee are the leading Australians at 4-under par.

Australia’s Karrie Webb finished at 1-under par 71. The second round begins at 7.20am on Friday.