Accrington’s Nikki Foster shot a two-under par 70 to lead the field after the first round of strokeplay qualifying in the English amateur championship at Broadstone, Dorset.

The 18-year-old Pleasington Golf Club member, who is an England international and is currently in fine form, had six birdies in her round and declared herself satisfied with her day’s work.

“I’m happy with that,” she said. “You can’t win the tournament on the first day, you have to qualify first.”

Foster has been flying high recently as the runner-up in both the Helen Holm Scottish strokeplay championship, where she was eight under par, and the Welsh strokeplay, where she forced a title play-off with a final round 69.