Omega Dubai Ladies Masters:trio lead

December 4, 2013. Three golfers, Spanish duo Carlota Ciganda and Mireira Prat shared the first round lead with Sweden’s Pernilla Lindberg at the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters after carding afive-under-par 67 at Emirates Golf Club on Wednesday.

Indian duo, Sharmila Nicollet and Rhea Nair are disappointingly placed 93rd after their first round. Both are far below the projected cut line.

The defending champion and World number four Shanahan Feng mixed five bogeys with one birdie her four-over 76 to give disastrous start to the tournament.

Thai ace golfer, Pornanong Phatlum was solo fourth, just one stroke behind the leaders, with Germany’s Solheim Cup star Caroline Masson alone in fifth on three-under-par.

World number three Stacy Lewis of the US, who is making her first appearance in Dubai, kept herself in the frame as one of seven players in a share of sixth on two-under 70 along with English pair Charley Hull and Laura Davies.

Hull was riding high at four-under-par with a hole to play, but four-putted on the 18th green. Darkness called an early halt to the first round on a day when early fog led to a 30-minute delay to the start of the play.

Prat, 24, from Barcelona, won the LET Access Series Order of Merit last week earning her full card for the 2014 LET and feels relaxed, as though her first visit to Dubai is a prize.

The second year LET member had five birdies and said: “I putted really well. I think I missed three shots and I recovered very well to make par so I’m very happy.

“I know I have my full card for next year and it was my goal for this year, so I think there is no pressure here and maybe that’s the key. I was very confident at the start and played very well and was relaxed. It’s the first day of a four day tournament so I’m going to keep focused and do things like I did today and we’ll see what happens.”

Rated as one of the favourites, Lewis drove the ball well, but felt whatever she did right was derailed once she got on the greens. “It was a bit frustrating out there. I hit the ball well, but just couldn’t make any putts. I think the longest putt I made was six or seven feet. My speed was a little off on the greens.