Unable to get a start in the ISPS Handa Women`s Australian Open last week, rookie Danish professional Nanna Koerstz Madsen arrived in Christchurch nine days before the start of the ISPS Handa New Zealand Women’s Open at Clearwater.

That gave her plenty of time to become familiar with a course she was playing for the first time and her diligent practice – she played the front nine six or seven times – paid dividends in today’s opening round when she carded the equal best round of the morning starters.

Madsen fired a flawless five-under 67, playing the front nine in three-under 33.

She admitted that the score came as a surprise as she had been struggling with her driver and 3-wood, but she kept the ball in play and avoided the water around the back nine especially.

Madsen proved she is capable of shooting low at the LET Q School in Morocco last December. There she was top qualifier after a 9-under final round.

She is not predicting a score for tomorrow’s second round when she will have an afternoon start and may strike a wind predicted to swing from the north-east to the south.

I don’t have a specific number in mind but it would be nice to be under par of course. There are some tough holes and you have to be straight because there is a lot of water, but if I can continue to hit the driver and 3-wood well then I’ll be fine.’’