Liz Young takes share of the lead at Dubai Ladies Masters

This content was originally posted in 7DAYS UAE website at: Liz Young takes share of the lead at Dubai Ladies Masters English golfer Liz Young is hoping some local knowledge and support from her family will give her the edge in the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters this weekend. Young, carded eight birdies and two bogeys for a round of 66 on the opening day at Emirates Golf Club yesterday, to leave her tied for the lead heading into round two today. The 23-year-old was helped by a red-hot putter as she needed just 25 putts to complete her round, which saw her end the day level with Spain’s Carmen Alonso and one shot clear of defending champion Shanshan Feng from China. After her fine opening round, a relaxed Young, admitted she was helped by some support from the sidelines and expert course knowledge from her caddie for this week, Omar Al Bastaki, who just happens to be a former Emirates Golf Club member. Young said: “I’ve got my husband out here, my mum and dad out here on their way to Australia. My caddie, he’s a local at the golf club and he’s caddied for me the third year. And Omar (caddie), he’s a member here and he plays off scratch I think. “He’s a good golfer and knows these greens. “Just if I’m a bit unsure of which way the green is going, I’ll be like, ‘which way is it’ and he’ll be ‘definitely it’s quick, quick’.” She also credited her red-hot putting – 25 compared with a season-average 31 – with an early start on the manicured greens of the Majlis Course and is confident she maintain her strong start. Young said: “I was very lucky being the second group out, so there was only three people on them before us. They are perfect. Emirates Golf Club have done a fantastic job with these greens. “My goal is to win. I know I’ve got to play good golf, and especially this tournament, there’s a lot of good competitors playing here and a lot higher ranked than me, but I feel like that’s why I can win the tournament.” Young will have to hold off the challenge of Alonso and Feng, a two-time winner of this tournament, who opened up with a bogey-free five under 67. Meanwhile, the experienced Laura Davies, who is just two shots off the lead, is hoping to finally get her hands on the Falcon Trophy after coming agonisingly close in recent years. The experienced Davies, who had five birdies in a four-under 68, said: “I feel like it’s a course I should do well on. I played solid. It’s a good start, but that’s all it is, a good start.” Read the original story at: Liz Young takes share of the lead at Dubai Ladies Masters