Krystle Caithness, a member of last year’s Curtis Cup team, made a terrific start to her Ladies’ European Tour career by packing seven birdies in a two under par 71 at the £450,000 Deutsche Bank Swiss Open at Golf Gerre Losonne.

South African Stacy Lee Bregman led by two on eight under 65, while Caithness, from the St Regulus Club in St Andrews, was the best of the six Scots in a tie for 26th place.

Michele Thomson, another Curtis Cup graduate, had four birdies in a level par 73, while the other Scots – Pamela Feggans (76), Vikki Laing (77), Clare Queen (77) and Lynn Kenny (78) – have work to do to make the halfway cut.

Caithness, the youngest of the Scots at just 20, made a shaky start with a seven at the long opening hole and she also ran up a double-bogey six at the tenth. But she displayed her talent with a string of birdies in the first half and another three in the row from the 16th to finish her round in confident fashion.

Thomson has non-exempt status and needs a few good results to guarantee a full programme this season. Starting on the back nine, she had two birdies and two bogeys in each half.

Bregman, who led by two shots from three players, had a flawless eight birdie round in her quest for a first European title, while English rookie Holly Aitchison and the experienced Lisa Hall were the best of the British players in a tie for fifth on five under 67.