Showing no signs of ring rust in her first tournament since November, major winner Hannah Green has claimed a share of the lead after the opening round of the women's Vic Open at 13th Beach.
The West Australian carded an opening-round six-under 67 on the Creek course on Thursday to be tied for the lead with fellow Australian Karis Davidson and young Korean Gyu Rin Kim.
Green withdrew from last month's inaugural WPGA event at Royal Queensland when it became clear she would have had to again enter quarantine on return to WA.
The 25-year-old was unsure how she would fare on her return to competition after such a long layoff, but as it turned out she need not have worried.
"I thought I was going to be a bit rusty and I did mishit a couple of shots out there but from memory I knew where to miss it and where not to hit it," Green said.
"I banked on some experience in today's round.
"We've had a couple of tees bump up and then a couple come back so it's been different clubs and lines that I'm taking with the length I've added in my game.
"I definitely need to think about it as it's not just driver everywhere like it has been in the past."
In 2019, Green became only Australia's third female major winner when she saluted at the Women's PGA Championship.
Davidson - who will play full time on the LPGA Tour for the first time in 2022 - stormed around the Beach Course late in the day to draw level with Green and Kim atop the leaderboard.
"Today was just really consistent," she said.
"I hit a lot of greens and holed a lot of putts.
"It was just all round a really good day.
"I love playing around here - I think most of the players do."
West Australian Whitney Hillier was in outright fourth spot at five under, two shots clear of amateur Jeneath Wong.
LPGA tour regular Su Oh was tied for sixth at two under while fellow tournament drawcard Steph Kyriacou - who was third on the European Ladies Tour order of merit in 2021 - was at one over.
Reigning Australian Amateur champion Grace Kim - who only turned pro five months ago - was disqualified after signing an incorrect scorecard.
The men's and women's Vic Opens are played concurrently at the 36-hole 13th Beach layout.
