Shansan and Parker on song after round one of the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters

Shanshan Feng sounded an early warning to her rivals, shooting a bogey-free 66 to share the lead with Florentyna Parker, her playing partner for the day, after the first round of the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters being held under the patronage of under the patronage of HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The only golfer from mainland China to win a major title when she captured the LPGA Championship in June earlier this year, Feng rattled off three birdies in each half to set up a one-shot advantage along with England’s Parker, who mixed seven birdies with a lone bogey (on the seventh).
Snapping on the heels of the leaders at five-under were Czech Republic’s Klara Spilkova, Cindy Lacrosse and Sahra Hassan of Wales, just one ahead of a group of eight headed by German Caroline Masson, currently placed second on the ISPS Handa Order of Merit standings.

Among the notables, defending champion Lexi Thompson signed off with a 69 while Michelle Wie and Carlota Ciganda, who leads the LET money list by €31,959 (Dh153,733) from Masson, each settled for two-under 70 to stay within string distance. Seasoned Laura Davies had a 71.
Playing on a sponsor’s invitation, Feng said staying patience was the key to her round. “I missed a lot of scoring chances early in my round, and I was just one-under after seven holes, but I made quite a comeback to finish six-under … really happy about the score,” said the sixth-ranked player in the world.

“I picked the momentum after holing a 15-footer for a birdie on the eighth and thereafter I did really well,” said Feng, who has just joined the Omega family of brand ambassadors.
“Being the highest-ranked player in the field, the pressure do well is there, but I would be glad with a top-five finish,” said the 23-year-old from Guangzhou.

England’s Parker said she always had a good first round in Dubai. “We had a fantastic group and I think we were like 16-under par all together. Which was great,” said Parker, who hit 14 greens and made 26 putts.

“I love the (Majlis) course, I love Dubai and feel quite comfortable here,” said the Englishwoman, who finished ninth and fourth in her previous last two outings here.
American Thompson, who is aiming to make it two-in-a-row, felt she could have done even better, but lipped out several putts in a row. A three-under in the first round is always a good score and I will gladly take it,” said the defending champion.

Earlier in the day, Spilkova, who joined the Ladies European Tour two years ago, birdied holes one, two, 10, 11 and 12 to card a tidy 67.
“Actually, I played very solid golf. I enjoy this course and it suits my game. The greens have a very good roll,” said Spilkova, who is looking to gift herself an early birthday present by securing her tour card for the 2013 season before she turns 18 next week.
“It hasn’t been a very good year for me, but I really want to finish on a good note.  This round has given my a good confidence boost for the week,” she added.
France’s Anne-Lise Caudal, who claimed her second LET victory in Germany earlier this season in a play-off against Laura Davies, had her chances to move up the leaderboard, but bogeys on third and ninth undermined her brilliant efforts.

Dubai-based prodigy Kavita Sehmi carded a four-over 76, not a bad effort considering the fact she was playing her very first round at this highest level of golf. The 17-year-old amateur, however, still stands a good chance of making the cut which is her immediate goal.
Scores at the end of round 1:
 
66 – Florentyna Parker (ENG) , Shanshan Feng (CHN)
67 – Sahra Hassan (WAL) , Cindy Lacrosse (USA) , Klara Spilkova (CZE)
68 – Gwladys Nocera (FRA) , Caroline Masson (DEU) , Lydia Hall (WAL) , Nontaya Srisawang (THA) , Anne-Lise Caudal (FRA) , Felicity Johnson (ENG) , Lorie Kane (CAN) , Ashleigh Simon (ZAF)
69 – Bree Arthur (AUS) , Lexi Thompson (USA) , Caroline Hedwall (SWE) , Jodi Ewart (ENG) , Line Vedel (DNK) , Dewi Claire Schreefel (NLD) , Valentine Derrey (FRA) , Elizabeth Bennett (ENG) , Stefania Croce (ITA) , Becky Morgan (WAL) , Sarah Kemp (AUS) , Yu Yang Zhang (CHN) , Stacy Lee Bregman (ZAF)
70 – Becky Brewerton (WAL) , Beth Allen (USA) , Linda Wessberg (SWE) , Diana Luna (ITA) , Julieta Granada (PAR) , Trish Johnson (ENG) , Kristie Smith (AUS) , Malene Jorgensen (DNK) , Holly Aitchison (ENG) , Nikki Garrett (AUS) , Titiya Plucksataporn (THA) , Michelle Wie (USA) , Carlota Ciganda (ESP) , Charlotte Ellis (ENG) , Jennie Lee (USA)
71 – Chrisje De Vries (NLD) , Caroline Martens (NOR) , Tania Elosegui (ESP) , Kym Larratt (ENG) , Margherita Rigon (ITA) , Joanna Klatten (FRA) , Danielle Montgomery (ENG) , Stephanie Na (AUS) , Connie Chen (ZAF) , Laura Davies (ENG) , Sophie Sandolo (ITA) , Veronica Zorzi (ITA) , Hannah Jun (USA) , Maria Verchenova (RUS)
72 – Sophie Giquel-bettan (FRA) , Tandi Cuningham (ZAF) , Rachel Bailey (AUS) , Maria Hjorth (SWE) , Virginie Lagoutte-clement (FRA) , Cassandra Kirkland (FRA) , Julie Greciet (FRA) , Karen Lunn (AUS) , Stacey Keating (AUS)
73 – Louise Larsson (SWE) , Laurette Maritz (ZAF) , Stefanie Michl (AUT) , Diana D Alessio (USA) , Rebecca Artis (AUS) , Maria Beautell (ESP) , Dawn Shockley (USA) , Lynnette Brooky (NZL) , Rebecca Codd (IRL)
74 – Henni Zuel (ENG) , Carmen Alonso (ESP) , Vikki Laing (SCO) , Georgina Simpson (ENG) , Celine Palomar (FRA) , Caroline Afonso (FRA) , Anais Maggetti (CHE) , Hee-Kyung Seo (KOR) , Sophie Walker (ENG) , Pernilla Lindberg (SWE)
75 – Jessica Yadloczky (USA) , Marianne Skarpnord (NOR) , Elisabeth Esterl (DEU) , Alexandra Vilatte (FRA)
76 – Kavita Sehmi (ENG) , Rachel Jennings (ENG) , Lucie Andre (FRA) , Carin Koch (SWE)
77 – Kiran Matharu (ENG) , Bo-Mi Suh (KOR) , Amelia Lewis (USA) , Melissa Reid (ENG) , Jade Schaeffer (FRA) , Elin Emanuelsson (SWE) , Clare Queen (SCO)
78 – Carly Booth (SCO) , Marjet Van Der Graaff (NLD) , Liebelei Lawrence (LUX)
79 – Steffi Kirchmayr (DEU)
80 – Zuzana Kamasova (SVK) , Kylie Walker (SCO)
82 – Nicole Gergely (AUT) , Marieke Nivard (NLD)
85 – Nanna Kofod Nielsen (DNK)
DQ – Namakula Flavia (UGA)