KIND words from top US player Christina Kim have helped convince Minchinhampton golfer Charlotte Ellis that she can compete with the world's best.

Ellis made a blistering start in the opening round of the Ricoh British Women's Open at Turnberry, birdieing three of the first four holes.

At that point only world number one Lydia Ko headed her on the leaderboard.

After a mid-round wobble, Ellis took her birdie count on the tough championship course to five as she posted a first round par 72, well in touch with the leaders.

"I was very anxious and nervous though the scoring may have suggested otherwise," said Charlotte from Cockleford.

"I had a good group with Christina and Meena Lee. Christina is a bubbly character and was so lovely to play with. She even complemented me on a great first round.

"It was my first Major – something I’d always dreamed of playing in – and an incredible experience. I could not stop grinning when I got my competitor's badge."

Charlotte was not alone in finding the wind and rain on the Ayrshire coast difficult to deal with on Friday and her second round of 80 saw her missing the cut.

World stars like Paula Creamer, Laura Davies, Karrie Webb and Mo Martin also did not make the weekend.

"Turnberry was a totally different animal on the second day," said Ellis. "The wind was so strong I was losing control of the club at the top of my backswing on the exposed holes out by the lighthouse.

"Basically, it was the fourth hole that bit me in the bum. I had a birdie there on day one but a quadruple bogey on the Friday.

"I mistimed my approach and got a suspended lie in the rough. I made the mistake of playing it rather than taking a drop and the club went straight underneath the ball.

"I then took a drop and went back 30 yards only to hit it back in the same spot.

"Apart from that quadruple and a double bogey on the first day I played the other 34 holes pretty well.

"The wind was so strong I was hitting three wood on every approach from the 12th. The highlight of my 80 was when I hit a three wood on 16 to three feet and holed the birdie putt to a standing ovation."

Still full of confidence, Charlotte moves on this week to the Czech Republic for the Pilsen Golf Masters. She said: "It is a course where I have scored well in the past and at 30 degrees I won't be wearing the five layers I needed on day two at Turnberry."