Shanshan Feng and Carin Koch both on fire after round 1 of the 2014 Omega Dubai Ladies Masters

China’s Shanshan Feng fired a brilliant 66 to join European Solheim Cup captain Koch atop the leaderboard as big names in the field jockeyed to seize the early initiative, leaving the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters wide open going into the second round at Emirates Golf Club on Wednesday. Always a threat at any golf tournament, world number five Feng flew out of the blocks with four birdies on the first six holes and added three more on the back nine against one bogey to match the work of the Swede who ignited her challenge in delightful conditions with six birdies in seven holes around the turn.

Well on course to winning the Order of Merit title this week, England’s Charley Hull ominously lurked behind the leaders one shot adrift along with South Africa’s Lee-Anne Pace, Becky Brewerton of Wales and talented Korean amateur Lee So-young.

The region has something to cheer about as well with Morocco’s Maha Haddioui returning a fine 71, but it was Feng who continued her love affair with the course where she won in 2012. “I didn’t have any pressure playing the round.

“I think we had so many birdie chances out there and I made seven, which is pretty good, because I think my putting was really working.  If anything, I would say I can work maybe a little harder on my driving.
“This year coming in, I set my goal, I said maybe top three.  And I would say 6under is a pretty good start.”

Koch knocked the rust off her game with a solid all-round game. “I putted really well today and hit a lot of good iron shots.

“I haven’t played an event since September, so it was probably more just trying to find the fairway and the green and remember how to do it.  It was very unexpected for me.  Like I said, I just made a lot of putts and hit a lot of iron shots close, and that makes all the difference.”

Last year’s Rookie of the Year and Solheim Cup star Hull was pleased with her first morning’s work after recovering from a bogey on 14 with six birdies in eight holes from the 16th.

Hull said: “I was pretty happy with the way I performed out there today.  Especially with changing to left over right for about four months now, first time my coach has seat me putt left over right in a tournament, as well.  So it’s good for him to do that, because he was the one who wanted me to change after the British Open.  Yeah, definitely happy with that.”

Pace, who won the Women’s South African Open in October, was pleased with her round containing six birdies and said: “Very solid.  Not missing a lot of shots.  Hitting a lot of greens and putting very well.  I think the greens are fantastic.  They are very fast and running out, so really good condition, the course. I love this course.  I finished second here last time, so I have really good memories about it.”

With defending champion Pornanong Phatlum of Thailand closing her first round on four under along with Australian Nikki Campell and Germany’s Caroline Masson prognosis points to an intense battle for control of the proceedings as the tournament wears on.

Early on the first day, Australian Stacey Keating produced the shot of the day when she aced 168-yard par-3 fourth hole, using a 7-iron and she said afterwards:  “It’s always nice to see a 1 on the scorecard.”

Collated first round scores:
 66 – Carin Koch (SWE) , Shanshan Feng (CHN)
67 – Lee Soyoung (KOR) , Becky Brewerton (WAL) , Lee-Anne Pace (RSA) , Charley Hull (ENG)
68 – Nikki Campbell (AUS) , Pornanong Phatlum (THA) , Caroline Masson (GER)
69 – Mireia Prat (ESP) , Carlota Ciganda (ESP) , Gwladys Nocera (FRA) , Anna Nordqvist (SWE)
70 – Amy Boulden (WAL) , Holly Aitchison (ENG) , Ariane Provot (FRA) , Valentine Derrey (FRA) , Cheyenne Woods (USA) , Joanna Klatten (FRA) , Melissa Reid (ENG) , Liz Young (ENG) , Ashleigh Simon (RSA) , Klara Spilkova (CZE) , Cathryn Bristow (NZL) , Stacey Keating (AUS)
71 – Marion Ricordeau (FRA) , Pernilla Lindberg (SWE) , Sarah Kemp (AUS) , Rebecca Hudson (ENG) , Sophie Walker (ENG) , Caroline Martens (NOR) , Kelsey Macdonald (SCO) , Titiya Plucksataporn (THA) , Rebecca Sorensen (SWE) , Thidapa Suwannapura (THA) , Becky Morgan (WAL) , Katie Burnett (USA) , Rebecca Codd (IRL) , Nicole Broch Larsen (DEN) , Stefania Croce (ITA) , Maha Haddioui (MAR) , Whitney Hillier (AUS) , Kylie Walker (SCO)
72 – Margherita Rigon (ITA) , Isabelle Boineau (FRA) , Eleanor Givens (ENG) , Aditi Ashok (IND) , Bree Arthur (AUS) , Lucy Williams (ENG) , Laura Davies (ENG) , Holly Clyburn (ENG) , Stacy Lee Bregman (RSA) , Krista Bakker (FIN) , Noora Tamminen (FIN) , Beth Allen (USA) , Pamela Pretswell (SCO) , Sophie Giquel-bettan (FRA) , Caroline Hedwall (SWE)
73 – Chloe Leurquin (BEL) , Jade Schaeffer (FRA) , Alison Whitaker (AUS) , Isabell Gabsa (GER) , Trish Johnson (ENG) , Ann-Kathrin Lindner (GER) , Virginia Espejo (ESP) , Viva Schlasberg (SWE) , Felicity Johnson (ENG) , Florentyna Parker (ENG)
74 – Elisabeth Esterl (GER) , Fabienne In-albon (SWI) , Vani Kapoor (IND) , Minea Blomqvist (FIN) , Anne-Lise Caudal (FRA) , Mallory Fraiche (USA) , Linda Wessberg (SWE) , Malene Jorgensen (DEN) , Maria Salinas (PER) , Julia Davidsson (SWE) , Hannah Burke (ENG) , Veronica Zorzi (ITA) , Connie Chen (RSA) , Vikki Laing (SCO) , Minjee Lee (AUS)
75 – Sophie Gustafson (SWE) , Caroline Afonso (FRA) , Maria Mcbride (SWE) , Alexandra Vilatte (FRA) , Georgia Hall (ENG) , Sahra Hassan (WAL) , Sophie Sandolo (ITA)
76 – Anais Maggetti (SWI) , Patcharajutar Kongkraphan (THA) , Kim Williams (RSA) , Carly Booth (SCO) , Camilla Lennarth (SWE) , Patricia Sanz Barrio (ESP) , Josephine Janson (SWE) , Sally Watson (SCO) , Louise Larsson (SWE)
77 – Cassandra Kirkland (FRA) , Henni Zuel (ENG) , Steffi Kirchmayr (GER) , Lydia Hall (WAL)
79 – Stephanie Na (AUS) , Nobuhle Dlamini (SWZ)
82 – Jamila Jaxaliyeva (KAZ)
83 – Julie Greciet (FRA)
WD – Celine Herbin (FRA)