Britain's Lora Fairclough shook off the effects of a shoulder injury to share the first round lead at the Italian Open near Florence.

Fairclough went around in six-under-par 67, including eight birdies, to tie with Norway's Suzann Pettersen and New Zealander Gina Scott.

The 32-year-old had withdrawn from the pro-am through injury on Wednesday but recovered well to lead by a shot from Italy's Silvia Cavalleri.

"I had a bad shoulder, but the pain disappeared as quickly as it came," Fairclough said.

Adjustments

"The day off did me good. I watched some videos of myself yesterday and I made me realise that I was lining up all wrong.

"I made the adjustments and today was great. I was thinking positively and I'm really pleased with the score."

Fairclough's only error was at the long second when she went into water and ran up a double-bogey seven.

But after opening with a birdie, she then bounced back with another two back-to-back to make up gfor her dropped shots.

Pettersen, beaten in a play-off by Denmark's Iben Tinning in last week's Irish Open, had four birdies and an eagle, chipping in from 30 feet at the par 529-yard 13th.

She had a chance to take the outright lead but three-putted her final hole - lipping out from three feet - for her only bogey of the day.

Selected first round scores:(Gbr & Irl unless stated)

67 Suzann Pettersen (Nor), Gina Scott (Nzl), Lora Fairclough
68 Silvia Cavalleri (Ita)
69 Maria Boden (Swe), Cecilia Ekelundh (Swe), Amai Arruti (Spa), Iben Tinning (Den), Sarah Bennett
70 Erica Steen (Swe), Georgina Simpson, Karine Icher (Fra)
71 Marine Monnet (Fra), Elisabeth Esterl (Ger), Paula Marti (Spa), Asa Gottmo (Swe), Diane Barnard, Marieke Zelsmann (Net), Jackie Kebbell, Suzanne Dickens, Alison Nicholas, Marina Arruti (Spa), Laurette Maritz (Rsa), Linda Ericsson (Swe)
72 Isabelle Roberg (Swe), Sara Beautell (Spa), Sophie Sandolo (Ita), Lynnette Brooky (Nzl), Corinne Dibnah (Aus), Federica Dassu (Ita), Julie Forbes, Nicola Moult, Monica Cosenza (Ita), Rikka Hakkarainen (Fin), Regine Lautens (Swi), Nicole Stillig (Ger), Isabella Maconi (Ita), Cecilia Sjoblom (Swe)

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