18-year-old Victorian Su Oh has taken a share of the lead at the halfway mark of the Victorian Women’s Open, her first tournament as a professional golfer.

Oh took advantage of the uncharacteristically still conditions on the Beach Course at Thirteenth Beach Golf Links to shoot an eight-under-par 65 and join first-round leader Sally Watson of Scotland and Norway’s Marianne Skarpnord at eight-under for the tournament.

Oh, playing in her first four-day event as a professional, carded nine birdies and one bogey in a stunning round of golf, her 65 doubling as a tournament course record.

Oh was happy with the round and explained she simply had to grasp her opportunities out on the links.

“I just saw I was eight behind at the start and said ‘Su, come on, you need to lift’. I thought I should catch up a little bit to the leader and I’m really glad I did it.

“There wasn’t much difference to yesterday, but I was a little more focused and hit better putts and scored much better.”

Round-one leader Watson was out early and shot a second straight four-under 69.

The third player at the top Skarpnord posted a 68 and believes a continuation of that form will see her in the mix at the weekend.

“If I play like I did today, I have a very big chance of winning.”

Lurking just one back of the leaders is Australian Amateur champion, Shelly Shin (67), while two English players, Holly Clyburn (68) and Sophie Walker (67), share fifth.

Comeback queen Rachel Hetherington posted a solid three-under-par 69 to share ninth position heading into the weekend.