Sienna Mosquera fired an opening round 78 to leave herself within striking distance of the leaders in the opening round of the Connecticut Women’s Open at the Tumble Brook Golf Club in Bloomfield, Connecticut on Wednesday.

The Lehigh University Golf Team member came in at six over, trailing joint leaders and fellow amateurs Yvette O'Brien and Dixon Hill by as many strokes.

Mosquera struggled on the front nine where she made two bogeys and a double at the par-5 sixth hole to make the turn at four over.

However, she steadied the ship coming in, having only dropped two holes to remain within sight of the leaders.

The promising golfer is being accompanied by caddie and multiple Bermuda Open champion Kim Swan, who was impressed by her showing in the opening round of the 36-hole stroke play tournament.

“Sienna’s driving and approach shots were solid and her putting approach outstanding by mastering the pace of the greens and applying a patient approach to the way she handled herself,” he told The Royal Gazette.

“State Opens have a history of featuring tough courses and testing set ups, and Tumble Brook was no exception.

“The pin placements were extremely challenging and designed to punish an aggressive putt that missed the hole, but Sienna was equal to the challenge.

“She hit eleven out of 18 greens in regulation and followed up by a smart display of two- putting by mastering the green speed to convert into pars.

“Sienna finds herself in 21st position after round one, six strokes behind the leaders, and with one round remaining has everything to play for.”

Joint leaders O'Brien and Hill both shot even par to cling to a one shot advantage over the rest of the fielding heading into today’s second and final round of the tournament.