England's Rebecca Hudson was in a five-way tie for the lead at the end of the first round of the UNIQA Ladies Open.

Hudson was joined by 17-year-old Austrian amateur Marina Stütz, Australian Nikki Garrett and Frenchwoman Julie Greciet with all five women shooting matching rounds of 6, six under par.

The quintet led by one shot from England's Melissa Reid, Christel Boeljon from the Netherlands, Spain's Marta Prieto and the 2005 champion Federica Piovano of Italy on 67.

Hudson, currently 58th on the Henderson Money List, carded six birdies with three in a row from the 10th for her best score of the season.

The 2008 Tenerife and Ladies English Open champion said: "I've had to change my golf swing because of a bad back. It's just not consistent and just needs practice. Today I seemed to have it under control."

Meanwhile, Barrett birdied the eighth, holed her second shot with a lob wedge from 50 metres at the par-four 12th hole and then made three successive birdies from the 15th for her best round of the year.

She said: "I was playing well but then I birdied 15, 16, 17, as well so I played solid and finally sunk a few putts. It's always good to get off to a flyer in a three-day event."

Greciet enjoyed her best putting day of the season picking up seven birdies and one bogey on her way to her career best round.

"I think my putting was the key. I lost my putting this year and I don't know why but I had it today and it was great," said the 23-year-old.