American challenger Laura Philo upstaged the leading former amateurs to share the lead after the opening round of the Women's European Tour Qualifying School tournament at Aroeira in Portugal yesterday.

Philo, a pupil at Arnold Palmer's old university of Wake Forest, hit four birdies in a one-under-par 71 to share the lead with Sweden's Karin Fries. The pair finished three strokes clear of Scotland's former Curtis Cup player Mhairi McKay, with US amateur champion Silvia Cavalleri on 75.

McKay was two under par after only five holes but slipped back when she dropped five strokes in five holes from the seventh.

Maureen Madill led the Irish challenge on 75 with Aideen Rogers a stroke further back and Tracey Eakin on 78.