Women's British Open 2014: Ayako Uehara takes early lead

Ayako Uehara of Japan took a one-shot lead after the first round of the Women's British Open at Royal Birkdale.

Uehara shot a four-under 68 to head American Mo Martin by one stroke, while world number one and defending champion Stacy Lewis took 71 to trail by three.

England's Holly Clyburn also ended one under, while US Women's Open champion Michelle Wie took 75 to finish three over par.

England's Charley Hull, 18, finished one over par, five shots off the lead.

Wie, who finished third at Birkdale as a 15-year-old amateur in 2005, described her round as "a real battle".

"I definitely felt like my tempo was a little bit off," Wie said. "I just didn't hit good shots today. But it's a long way until Sunday. It could have been a lot worse."

Uehara and Martin were the only players to shoot under 70 as windy conditions made play difficult. Only nine players broke par and more than a dozen took more than 80.

World number two Lydia Ko, 17, of New Zealand carded level-par 72, while England's 50-year-old Dame Laura Davies finished double bogey, bogey, birdie for a three-over 75.