Sweden, powered by two members of next month's European Solheim Cup team, took a four shot lead after the first day's play in the 54-hole £500,000 inaugural women's World Cup at Adare Manor, Co Limerick yesterday.

They finished on four-under-par 140 with the United States, Australia and Germany four shots back on level par. They were followed by England, Scotland and New Zealand who were on one-over-par.

Ireland's team of Aideen Rogers and Lynn McCool finished eight over on 152. Rogers had a oneover-par 73 while McCool shot 79.

Rogers admitted to being nervous at the beginning but settled down with two braces of birdies in the back nine and at the short 16th over the lake she almost holed out with a six iron. Her Ulster partner McCool's score of seven over did not reflect the standard of golf. The Swedish team was led by 29-year-old Carin Koch who carded a three-under-par 69. She plays her golf out of Arizona with the LPGA US tour and tied with Elizabeth Esterl (Germany).

Koch, who as an amateur was a member of the Swedish team who 10-years-ago won the European Junior championship at Shannon. She had five birdies, four of them in the first nine. Afterwards she said: "this is a most difficult course but in a beautiful setting where the greens are very difficult to read."

Her partner, Sophie Gustafson, who last month won the British Women's Open as well as the Irish and Italian Opens was one of five players on one-under-par 71.

Kellie Booth, whose mother is captain of the US Curtis Cup Team finished on two-under-par 70, third in the individual classification.