Charley Hull overcame post-Solheim Cup illness and a lack of pre-tournament practice to get within two shots of the early lead at the LPGA Tour’s Walmart NW Arkansas Championship. Making her first start since featuring in Team Europe's Solheim Cup win in the Netherlands, Hull mixed seven birdies with one bogey during her opening-round 65 at Pinnacle Country Club. The Englishwoman, who revealed post-round she had tonsillitis during Europe's 15-13 victory over the United States, sits in tied-third on six under as Japan's Yuna Nishimura set the early pace.

A final-hole eagle pushed Nishimura into a one-shot advantage over China's Yu Liu, who held the initial clubhouse lead after a bogey-free 64, while Hull is joined in the logjam on six under by Solheim Cup teammate Celine Boutier. England's Jodi Ewart Shadoff threatened a late run at the lead until two bogeys in her last three holes saw her post a five-under 66, with compatriots Lottie Woad and Caley Mc Ginty also three back. With it only being three rounds, you want to get off to a good to start and try and not drop too many shots, Woad explained.

Mimi Rhodes opened with a four-under 67 and Chiara Tamburlini - who narrowly missed out on Solheim Cup qualification - also lies four behind after a low-scoring opening day.