Dubai: Cheyenne Woods, the niece of superstar golfer Tiger, was one shot off the lead held by England’s Florentyna Parker after the first round of the tragedy-hit Dubai Ladies Masters yesterday.
Play had been suspended early on Wednesday in the season-ending championship of the Ladies European Tour following the death of caddie Max Zechmann on the course.
And with the tournament reduced to 54 holes, the field completed the round yesterday.
Parker, who started the day at seven under par after nine holes, moved to eight-under after 16, but having started on the back nine, the closing stretch of the difficult par-4 eighth and ninth holes took its toll.
The 27-year-old, who is fourth in the money list and enjoying a superb year without winning a tournament, made a bogey on the eighth and then closed with a double bogey on the ninth.
Also a victim of the eighth hole was Woods who looked good as she was six under par on the eighth tee having also started from the 10th. But she pushed her tee shot into the desert and ended up making a double bogey.
Woods and Frenchwoman Sophie Giquel-Bettan were tied for second place at four under par.
Struggled
Defending champion Feng Shanshan struggled for her even-par 72, while India’s Aditi Ashok, who won the last two individual events on the LET, carded a solid two-under-par 70.
“I have struggled here the last few years,” said Parker. “The last three years I’ve missed the cut, and it’s been very disappointing.
“I was thinking back to 2010, I think I started with five or six-under on the back nine, which was my front nine. And I said, I need to get that feeling back and somehow do the same, and I can do it.