Nicole Garcia made two bogeys in her first three holes on Thursday, but by the time play was suspended in the first round of the ISPA Handa Women’s Scottish Open at Dundonald Links near Troon, she was in a share of fifth on three-under-par.

After her dropped shots on the first and the third, Garcia made pars on the next four holes before she made her first birdie on the eighth as she turned for home at one-over 37. A birdie on the 11^th and then three in a row from the 14^th saw her home in four-under 32. She was just two strokes off the lead which was held by Australia’s Minjee Lee at five-under, and she was in a share of third with, amongst others, Olympic gold medallist Lydia Ko of New Zealand.

It was an interrupted day of play at Dundonald Links with the start of the day’s play being delayed by an hour. Then after the morning wave had got underway, weather conditions worsened with heavy rainfall and play was suspended at 11.24am (local time) and didn’t resume until 1.30pm.

There were three players in a share of second place with Megan Khang of the United States, Korea’s A Lim Kim and England’s Lily May Humphreys all on four-under-par.

Three players were in a share of fifth place with Ko and Garcia, with Lauren Coughlin, Ayaka Furue and Lucy Li all on three-under-par.

A group of 12 players sat one shot further back on two-under including Olympic silver medallist Esther Henseleit, LET Order of Merit leader Bronte Law and Solheim Cup stars Charley Hull and Georgia Hall.

Lee-Anne Pace opened with a one-over-par 73 for a share of 46^th together with Paula Reto. Ashleigh Buhai battled to a four-over 76 and Casandra Alexander had a seven-over 79.