Rudgeley ready to scale the heights for Swiss victory

Kirsten Rudgeley, chasing her maiden Ladies European Tour win, is in a four-way share of the lead in the Swiss Open at a sun-soaked Golfpark Holzhausern.

The Australian was out early on Friday, and set the target for the opening day with a five-under-par bogey-free 66.

"You need to prepare properly on this course," Rudgeley, 23, said.

"Get the right numbers and make sure the elevation is correct. With the mountains and the snow, I just kept looking around.

"Me and Harry (Ewing, my new caddie), it's our first tournament together. I've been looking for a caddie for a while and me and Harry get on really well.

"I'll see where it takes us. We hit some sensible shots and hit it pretty close all day, holed a few putts."

She shared the lead with Swede Caroline Hedwall, India's Vani Kapoor and Frenchwoman Anne-Charlotte Mora.

Another Australian, Whitney Hillier, was three shots back on a congested leaderboard, in a tie for 21st place.