The large Australian contingent has performed very well during the opening round of the LACOSTE Ladies Open de France.

Victorian Lindsey Wrights leads the way after posting a three-under-par 67 on the Chantaco Golf course in Saint-Jean-de-Luz. Her round included seven birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey.

Wright is just three behind co-leaders Joanna Klatten and Hannah Burke, who shot matching rounds of six-under-par 64 to share the lead after round one of the LACOSTE Ladies Open de France.

Both players carded seven birdies and one bogey to finish a stroke clear of Stacy Lee Bregman and Charley Hull, with Jade Schaeffer, Carlota Ciganda, Anne-Lise Caudal and Diana Luna a stroke further behind in a share of fifth.

Wright is tied for ninth position. ACT’s Nikki Campbell and defending champion Stacey Keating are a further shot back at two-under-par and tied for 17th position.

Rebecca Artis is at one-under-par and tied for 30th. Nikki Garrett carded an even-par round to be tied 36th place. Bree Arthur is final Australian within the projected cut after the first round. Arthur is is at one-over and tied for 45th position. The top 50 and ties will make the cut.

At the moment, Sarah Kemp and Stephanie Na are tied for 52nd position at two-over and have a good chance of making the week-end with a good second round. Alison Whitaker is also in with a chance as she is at two-over and tied for 60th.

Temperatures topped 30C in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, south-western France on a still and scorching opening day at Chantaco Golf Club.

Burke continued her fine form from a month ago when she finished second to Catriona Matthew at the Scottish Open in completely contrasting, cold and windy conditions.

The 25-year-old from Welwyn Garden City birdied all three of the par 5s after hitting eight fairways and 14 greens but felt that her putting was the key, with 26 putts.

“I made a few good ones. Coming in, there were a lot of chances. There were some sneaky pin positions that you’ve got to be careful of,” said Burke, yet to win in two years on Tour.

“The greens are sneakily fast so you’ve got to be on the right side and I managed to plot my way around. They release or they spin back a lot because it’s really wet out there, so you have to be careful on those uphill greens.”

After 2 inches of rain over two days last week, the course is still relatively wet, creating humid conditions for the first round.

Home hope Klatten was given some insider knowledge as she is staying with the former club president Camille Lacoste and her husband Gerard, who gave some helpful advice in the practice round on Monday.

Six-under-par after 15 holes, she dropped a shot on 17 but then sank an eight foot putt for birdie from the back of the 18th green to regain her advantage.

“Every part of my game was solid today,” said the 28-year-old from Paris, also yet to win on tour. “I am very lucky to stay with Camille and her husband Gerard, because they know the course very well and Gerard came out with me on Monday and helped me out a lot with strategy and course management so I can only be thankful because he gave me a lot of good tips.”