Lianna Bailey, 19, from Kirby Muxloe Golf Club, Leicester, had the best outward half of four-under-par 33, which included an eagle 3 at the long third, a 2 at the short fourth and birdie 3s at the par-4 eighth and ninth. She made only one slip on the way out, a bogey at the fifth, but it was a different story after the turn.

Lianna had a nightmare inward half of 44 strokes which included a triple bogey 7 at the 18th for a round that promised so much but ended in a disappointing score of 77.

Lianna's sister Annabel, who had her 18th birthday only a week ago, turned in one-under 36 and and completed another half of 36 for a creditable 72, one shot behind the joint leaders.

Annabels three birdies came at par-5 holes: the third, the sixth and the 14th. She bogeyed the eighth and 11th.

Chloe Williams birdied the fifth, long 10th, short 12th and short 16th in halves of 37 (level par) and 34 (two under). The Welsh player bogeyed the ninth and the long 14th.

Inci Mehmet had more birdies - the second, long third, long sixth, seventh and long 10th - but also more bogeys, at the first, fifth and eighth, in halves of 36 and 35. She parred the last eight holes.

Mairead Martin had a bogey-free outward half of 35, highlighted by birdies at the par-5 third and fifth. The Killarney player moved to three under with a 4 at the long 10th but that was as good as it got for Mairead. She bogeyed the 11th and parred her way in from there for a 71.

Jessica Ross (Clandeboy), joint fourth in this event last year, started solidly with two-under-par 35 to the turn. She wobbled a bit on the inward half with bogeys at the 11th, long 14th and 38th, and only one birdie, at the short 16th, for 38 home and a par round of 73.

Georgia Price (Bude and North Cornwall) birdied the 15th and 18th to salvage a par round of 73 after dropping three shots over three holes - a bogey at the 11th and a double bogey 6 at the 13th.

She had earlier birdies at two par-5 holes, the sixth and the 10th, in halves of 37 and 36. She also dropped a shot at the second.

Gemma Clews (Delamere Forest) came back in 34 to post a 74 after being three over par at the turn to post a 74.

English-born Gemma Batty (Moffat), who hopes to play for Scotland once she has lived north of the Border for long enough to meet the international requirements, was sharing the lead at two under par after birdieing the first, fourth and seventh on her way to a two-under-par outward half of 35. But things went awry for Gemma after the turn with a triple bogey 6 at the short 16th and bogeys at the 10th, 11th, 13th and 18th. She had only one birdie, at the long 14th, to offset the shots dropped and 42 home for a 77 was a disappointing finish to a potentially very good round.

There will be a cut made after 36 holes for the top 40 plus ties who will play the final 36 holes on Friday 2nd September.