Austria, Spain lead day 1 at Euro Nations Cup

The female duos from Austria and Spain were on top of the leaderboard after the opening fourballs at the European Nations Cup in Denia, eastern Spain.

Denmark's Iben Tinning and Lisa Sorensen played solidly and became one of three pairings to fire a four-under-par 68. This approach by Tinning at the par-five second hole set up a birdie.

Welsh hopes, meanwhile, lay with Becky Brewerton and Breanne Loucks. They were among a trio of teams to hit 69 - that three-under-par tally helped by a birdie here at the par-four fifth.

Sweden's Sophie Gustafson and Anna Nordqvist managed a 67. This was Gustafson's birdie putt at the second hole - the duo would make seven birdies in all, but suffered bogeys the 13th and 15th.

Jade Schaeffer of France was unfortunate to see this chip "lip out" at the par-three sixth. Schaeffer and her partner, Gwladys Nocera, would though take 67, the round including six birdies and just a single dropped shot.

Spain's Tania Elosegui was delighted to see this putt drop in at the third hole. It was the first of seven birdies for Elosegui and Emma Cabrera who would end the day in a share of the lead.

The USA's Meg Mallon and Beth Daniel completed the group at five-under 67 after a round containing no dropped shots. This was Mallon's monster putt for a birdie at the ninth.