SOLID START BY JODI

DESPITE DOUBLE

BOGEY AT LAST HOLE

Yorkshire's Jodi Ewart made a solid start to the Arizona Wildcat Invitational college tournament with a par-matching score of 71 in the first round over the 6,166yd Arizona National course.

Jodi, pictured right, is seeking to press her claims for inclusion in the GB&I team of eight for the Curtis Cup match over the Old Course, St Andrews at the end of May.

The leader of the tournament is already assured of playing No 1 for the United States team - Duke University student Amanda Blumenherst who had a three-under-par 68 to lead by one shot from Mari Chun (Stanford).

Jodi looked like finishing the first day only a shot behind Amanda but, having started at the 10th, the Catterick player finished with a double-bogey 5 at the short ninth. Earlier she had birdied the 13th, 17th, second and eighth and dropped shots at the 14th and seventh.

Galway-born Alison Walshe (Arizona), already selected by the US Curtis Cup selectors, also had a 71.

LEADERBOARD

Par 71

68 Amanda Blumenherst (Duke).

69 Mari Chun (Stanford).

Other scores:

71 Jodi Ewart (New Mexico), Alison Walshe (Arizona).

72 Azahara Munoz (Arizona State).

74 Pernilla Lindberg (Oklahoma State), Anna Nordqvist (Arizona State), Belen Mozo (Southern California).

77 Dewi-Claire Schreefel (Southern California).