Cavan's Leona Maguire battled her way to an opening round of 75 (three over par) at the US Women's Open on Thursday.
The Duke University student comes into the major at Trump National Bedminster in a good run of form after recently claiming the Annika Award in America – given to the best performing player on the college circuit.
The 22-year-old started at the 10th and began on the back foot with bogeys at her first two holes, as she looks to make the cut at the US Open for the first time ever.
However, a birdie at the 15th got one back before giving it straight back at the next.
A run of six pars in a row steadied the ship but another bout of consecutive bogeys threatened to throw the round off course altogether.
However, Maguire – who has 26 top-10 finishes in her 30 competitive appearances – kept her composure to notch up a birdie two at the par three seventh.
Back-to-back pars on the eighth and ninth mean the world number one amateur finished with back-to-back pars for a 75, nine shots off early leader Shanshan Feng of China.
Meanwhile, Stephanie Meadow struggled in her opening round as she failed to make a birdie.
The 25-year-old Co Antrim native bogeyed the third and fourth but settled down to get on a run of six pars.
However, things unravelled somewhat on the back nine with three bogeys in the next four holes resulting in a 77 and a lot of work to do to make the cut.
