Birdies send Tiffany to the top

American Tiffany Joh shot a nine-underpar 62 to open up a four-stroke lead on the first day of the ASI Scottish Ladies Open at Gullane.

The 31-year-old has yet to win in a decade on the LPGA Tour and her best finish in a major is joint-16th at the 2014 ANA Inspiration.

However, she made the most of the hard, fast-running course to gain a significant advantage.

Six birdies in eight holes either side of the turn, added to two back-to-back from the start, catapulted her to the top of the leaderboard.

She then finished off in style by picking up another shot at the 389-yard par four.

Just less than a fortnight ago Brandon Stone shot a course-record 60 on the links in the final round to win the men’s Scottish Open, although the women’s event is playing 650 yards shorter.

Five South Koreans occupy the next nine places, led by Jenny Shin, Amy Yang and In-kyung Kim on five under,

England’s Solheim Cup player Charley Hull is in a group a shot further back after six birdies and two bogeys in a round of 67, which was also posted by Scotland’s Kelsey Macdonald.

Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew carded a two-under 69 to sit tied 23rd while Comrie’s Carly Booth is one over par after a 72.

Aberdeen’s Michele Thomson is tied 118th alongside Musselburgh’s Vikki Laing after they both shot 75. Thomson’s fellow Aberdonian Gemma Dryburgh is one shot better off after a three-over 74.