LEONA MAGUIRE HAS made an encouraging start as a European Tour professional, sitting seven shots off the lead at the Pacific Bay Resort Australian Ladies Classic.

Maguire — who first secured a full Ladies European Tour (LET) card at the end of 2018 — carded a one-over par 73 in her opening round.

The 24-year-old Cavan native fired one birdie and two bogeys during the round, with Australian amateur Doey Choi currently holding a two-shot lead after carding a six-under 66.

Swedish duo Madelene Sagstrom and Daniela Holmqvist are just behind in joint-second place.

Maguire showed nerves of steel to obtain her LET card in December, edging out Sweden’s Sarah Nilsson in a playoff to finish in fifth place at at qualifying school in Morocco. 

The top-five players at that tournament were granted Category 5c status for this season, which gives them entry into the majority of tournaments on the LET circuit.

Follow the Pacific Bay Resort Australian Ladies Classic leaderboard here.

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