Golf: Vikki slumps down under

MUSSELBURGH'S Vikki Laing got her year off to a disappointing start as she slumped to a ten-over-par 83 in the first round of the Handa Australian Women's Open in Melbourne today.

The 29-year-old was lying 16 shots behind the clubhouse leader, Korean Jiyai Shin, at the Commonwealth Golf Club.

Laing, who had two 7s on her card - one of them a triple-bogey at the 17th - wasn't the only Scot in the field to struggle.

Krystle Caithness opened with an 84, the main damage for the Fifer being caused by a triple-bogey 7 at the last, while Kylie Walker was nine-over with two holes to play after running up three double-bogeys.

Carly Booth signed for a 77 after three closing bogeys, but qualifier Clare Queen was having a much better day.

One of the later starters, she was two-under with three holes to play, the highlight of her round being an eagle at the 13th, her fourth hole.

Shin was holding a one-shot lead over Ireland's Rebecca Coakley.