Charley Hull in the Mix in Women's Olympic Golf

England's Charley Hull shot a 3-under-par 68 to trail leader Ariya Jutanugarn by three after day one of the women's Olympic Golf

Charley Hull in the Mix in Women's Olympic Golf

Woburn's Charley Hull is just three shots off the lead after day one of the women's Olympic golf tournament in Rio.

Rio Olympic Golf Course Hole by Hole Guide

Hull, 20, birdied the first hole and was -3 after 10 holes before parring her last eight to sign for a 68.

"I played well but feel like I left so many shots out there on the back nine," said Hull. "But I feel like I am hitting it pretty well and at the end of the day I'm pretty happy with that score.

"And although it's quite an easy hole, it was nice to birdie the first and be able to say I birdied my first hole as an Olympian."

Related: Women's Olympic Golf Round 2 tee times

The day one lead is held by Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn, also 20, who shot an excellent 65 (-6) which included seven birdies and an eagle.

The Thai, who doesn't carry a driver, won the recent Ricoh Women's British Open at Woburn to claim her first major championship and become the first golfer, male or female, to win a major championship in golf.

World number one Lydia Ko , who played with Charley Hull in the final group, eagled the par-4 15th and finished at -2.

Inbee Park, who opted not to defend her British Open title last month due to a thumb injury, is 5-under after a bogey-free 66 in her first competitive round in two months.

Golf Monthly Olympic Golf Homepage

Team GB's other hope Catriona Matthew is level par after a gritty opening round. She double-bogeyed the third and  had a bogey on the 11th but had three birdies to keep herself in the tournament.

"I'm a little bit disappointed," said the 2009 Women's British Open Champion. "I had a lot of chances the last five or six holes and hit some good putts that didn't go in.

"I suppose overall I am still in it and that's the main thing."