(Aroeira, Portugal, May 25 2002) Sweden’s Nina Karlsson and Kanna Takanashi from Japan share the lead after the first round of the Euro70,000 Ladies Open of Costa Azul after firing three under par 69’s around the tight tree lined course on the outskirts of Lisbon.

The Dutch pair of Mette Hageman and Nienke Nijenhuis share second place one shot behind, with six players in the bun fight at one under par including Solheim Cup captain Dale Reid, England’s Nicola Moult, Japan’s Sachie Yoshida-Lavoie and Australians Corinne Dibnah and Catherine Knight.