Welsh duo off the pace in Melbourne

WELSH golfers Becky Morgan and Becky Brewerton still have work to do to make the cut at the ISPS Handa Australian Open in Melbourne.

Morgan recorded a four-over par 77 on day one while Brewerton was a stroke worse off, leaving her nine shots behind first-round leaders Sarah Kemp of Australia and American Stacy Lewis.

Reigning champion Yani Tseng, chasing a third consecutive Australian crown, is in a share for third place following a three-under par 70.

The best-placed Brit going into tomorrow’s second round is England’s Melissa Reid who shares sixth spot with four other players on -2.

Morgan got off to a great start on the Royal Melbourne course by birdieing the par-five second before dropping four shots on the rest of the outward nine, including a double bogey on the par-three fifth.

Things settled down somewhat on the home stretch but after Morgan birdied the 12^th, she bogeyed holes 14 and 16 to end on +4 and a tie for 88^th.

As for Brewerton, she had a horrible back nine with one birdie lost among five bogeys to lie 102^nd out of 156 entrants.

A solid start was boosted when she picked up a shot on the sixth only to undo all her good work with a seven on the par-five two holes later.

The top 70 players plus ties will make the cut after the completion of tomorrow’s second round so the two Welsh women have a fight on to make sure they are still around for the weekend.