The three Home Nations already face a mountain to climb as hot favourites USA led the way on day one of the World Team Championships in France.
FORMAT: 72-hole team stroke play
World No 1 Rose Zhang (69) and No 3 Rachel Heck (68) both lived up to their billing to give the States a one-shot lead over Germany while South Africa, Switzerland and surprise packages Poland were just a shot further behind.
Already six back of the leaders in the 72-hole stroke play event are England, who started their challenge on the Golf National course. Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche is also being used and each of the 56 competing nations will play both tracks twice.
With the best two scores out of three counting on each day, England got off to a strong start, especially British Girls champion Lottie Woad, who got to three under after seven before dropping four shots in her final 11 holes.
World No 8 Caley McGinty also made a fast start – she was two under after four – but finished level par.
Wales are shot further adrift on two over with Darcey Harry and Ffion Tynan both posting one-over-par 73s at Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche. Harry fought back well after finding herself three over after five.
The Scottish trio had a disappointing day at La-Bretèche with World No 17 Hannah Darling producing a steady 74 (+2) while Lorna McClymont consolidated after a slow start to finish with a 76.
Tomorrow the English trio – Charlotte Heath is the other member – look to move up the standings at Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche while Wales (Ellen Nicholas is their other member) and Scotland (Chloe Goadby) are in action at Le Golf National, host of the 2018 Ryder Cup.