Kaiyuree Moodley overcame a triple-bogey seven on Friday to post a level-par 71 in the first round of the Ladies European Tour’s Hills Open at Hills Golf & Sports Club in Mölndal, Sweden.

Moodley three-putted the seventh for her triple, and, despite two other bogeys, she made five birdies to be in a share of 14th at the end of the first round. She turned in two-over 39, and came home in two-under 32.

She was just four shots off the first-round lead, which was held by New Zealand’s Momoka Kobori at four-under-par. Kobori had a one-stroke lead over seven players on three-under-par.

Kobori had a steady front nine with one birdie on the sixth hole, but made an impressive statement on the back nine, with three back-to-back birdies on 11, 12, and 13. She then dropped a shot on 14, but bounced back with a birdie on the next hole.

Reflecting on her round, she said: “It was pretty tough out there with the wind. Before the round, I wanted to just go out and try to keep a good attitude and stay as patient as possible. I knew it was going to be tough out there on a tough golf course. I was able to make some really good pars and then once the opportunities came, I was able to capitalise on them. It was a game of patience out there.”

Stacy Bregman and Danielle du Toit each opened with seven-over-par 78s.