Icelander leads women's NSW Open golf

Iceland's Valdis Johnsdottir has carded a career-best eight-under-par 63 to claim a three-shot lead after round one of the Women's NSW Open golf championship.

The Nordic tyro stormed around the Queanbeyan layout on Thursday with a performance that included seven birdies and an eagle on the par-5 third hole.

The 29-year-old described the effort as '"quite easy", adding the key was just to try to swing it a little easier.

"My back has been hurting a lot for the last five weeks, so I decided this week I am going to try and swing it quite slow," Johnsdottir said.

"I kept the ball in play, I hit a lot of good iron shots into the greens and made a lot of good putts."

Three shots behind Johnsdottir is France's Astrid Vayson De Pradenne, who carded a five-under 66.

NSW's Rebecca Artis is the best-placed Australian in a tie for third after signing off on a 67 in relatively calm afternoon conditions.

Artis was pleased with her effort after the round, saying her recent form had been below average.

"I played solid out there today," she said.

"It's been a rough couple of weeks for me so, I was just trying to do the basics right; hit the fairway, hit the middle of the greens and take the opportunities as they come.

"The putter has been cold the last few weeks, so it was nice to see a few drop today."

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