England's Alice Hewson surged to the top of the leaderboard in the opening rounds of the AIG Women's Open, posting a strong early score to take a narrow lead. Playing alongside fellow Englishwoman Lottie Woad, the pair set the pace at Walton Heath with Hewson carding a bogey-free round to sit at 4-under par.

Woad, the reigning British Women's Amateur champion, matched her playing partner shot-for-shot through the front nine before a late bogey dropped her one stroke back at 3-under. The English duo lead a crowded leaderboard featuring major champions Lydia Ko and Nelly Korda lurking just two shots adrift.

Defending champion Ashleigh Buhai opened with a solid 1-under 71, while world number one Scottie Scheffler's counterpart on the LPGA Tour, Nelly Korda, showed early form with a 2-under start. With benign morning conditions expected to give way to afternoon winds, the early starters hold a distinct advantage heading into Friday's second round.