Walker in Finn form

Scottish rookie Kylie Walker produced the best round of her professional career - a superb seven-under par 64 to take a two-stroke lead over South African Lee-Anne Pace after yesterday's first round of the Finnair Masters in Helsinki.

The 23-year-old former Great Britain and Ireland amateur international from Buchanan Castle underlined her potential by birdieing the fourth, fifth and ninth on her way to an outward total of 31 and came home in 33, picking up more shots at the tenth, 12th 14th and 17th.

Having easily come through qualifying at her second attempt at the Ladies' European Tour School at La Manga in December, Walker presumed life on tour would be 'a doddle'. But she was proved wrong when she missed six of her first eight cuts. Her form has improved and she has had top 25 back-to-back finishes in Wales and at last week's Ladies' Scottish Open at Archerfield.

She said: "In my first few events I really struggled, not so much because of my game but because I was just so nervous but I'm getting used to it now."

It was also a good day for Musselburgh's Vikki Laing who is tied for seventh place on three under par.