Three way tie after round 1 of the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters

Rookie Mireira Prat knocked the rust off her game with a bogey-free 67 to join the more experienced Pernilla

Lindberg and Carlota Ciganda atop the leaderboard after the opening round of the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters being held 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.

Defending champion and overwhelming favourite Shanshan Feng slipped to a four-over 76, but world number three Stacy Lewis of the US, who is making her first appearance in Dubai, kept herself in the frame with a two-under 70 along with England’s great Laura Davies on a day when early fog led to a 30-minute delay to the start of the play. Pornanong Phatlum of Thailand was solo fourth, just one stroke behind the leaders, with Germany’s Solheim Cup star Caroline Masson alone in fifth on three-under-par. It was young Prat from Barcelona who overshadowed big names in the field with an impressive performance. “I putted really well.

I think I missed three shots and I recovered very well to make par so I’m very happy,” said the 24-year-old who won the LET Access Series Order of Merit last week earning her full card for the 2014 LET. “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,” said Prat. Her fellow Spaniard Cingada had a chance to break clear of a crowded leaderboard, but missed the birdie putt on the closing hole. “I really played well. This is my fifth time to Dubai and I am enjoying the relaxed atmosphere.” For China’s Feng nothing went right. “I just don’t know why I struggled today. I didn’t have any pressure.

May be, I didn’t get enough sleep,” said Chinese ace, who got woken up at 4.30 by a guest who knocked on the wrong door. “So, I am feeling a bit tired, plus the jet lag, but I don’t think that’s an excuse,” said Feng who admitted it wasn’t a good day at work. Lewis, the other main contender for the title, 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. “I feel like the course is playing hard enough that no-one’s going to run away and shoot a great score. The greens are firm and fast and you’ve got to play smart. I feel like I’m still in it.

We’ve got three more days and if I can make some putts I’ll be there.” England’s Charley Hull, who is eyeing the Rookie of the Year award, four-putted her closing hole to Lewis in a tie for the sixth on a two under. Two groups, containing six players, will finish their first rounds at 7.10am on Thursday morning while tee times for the second round are unchanged. ‘golf in DUBAi’ is backed by Omega as the title sponsor and DUBAL as the sponsor. The co-sponsors are: CNN, Drydocks World & Maritime World, Emirates NBD, Gulf News, Mercedes-Benz and wasl while Dubai Duty Free, Carpetland and Motivate are the Patrons in golf in DUBAi’s drive to showcase the emirate’s vibrant golfing scene to a worldwide audience.