Rebecca Artis is the leader after round one of the Women’s NSW Open – and she credits that to a talk she had with husband Geoff.

Artis fired a flawless round of five-under-par 67 to sit atop the leaderboard after the opening round of the Open, being played at Oatlands Golf Club in Sydney.

“We had a bit of deal coming into this week, that I listened to him 100 per cent and basically play the game he wanted me to play and it worked alright out there today,” she said.

“I should maybe listen to him more often.”

Artis is one shot ahead of Spain’s Mireia Prat, with a large group of players a shot further back on three under.

In that group are Australians Sarah Kemp, Tamie Durdin and Julia Boland.

“It was a very solid day … I rolled some pretty good putts out there, I could see the line early and my ball striking was fairly solid as well,” Artis said.

Also in the group on three under is defending champion Joanna Klatten of France, who says she was happy with her day.

“I was offensive like I said I was going to be and it paid off quite a few times, I had six birdies,” she said.

“I only had one bad hole, 15th, so I pretty pleased with that start.”

Another seven players are at two-under, including three amateurs Shelly Shin, Elizabeth Elmassian and Jenny Lee.

Meanwhile, 12-year-old Belinda Ji had a tough initiation to professional golf, carding a 12 over-par.