Alonso celebrates mum’s improving health with joint-leader scoring round

Dubai: Carmen Alonso celebrated her mother’s recovery from a lung cancer operation by shooting six under par 66 to take a joint lead with Liz Young after round one of the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters on Wednesday.

Alonso sat out most of this season in order to take care of her mother who underwent surgery in October. As a result she only played five events heading into this year-ender, and will now need to return to qualifying school in order to regain her card for next season.

However, after shooting a blemish-free round of two birdies on her front nine and four on her return, she now seems determined to draw a line under what’s been a difficult year.

“I’m just happy to play because two months ago I didn’t know if I was going to continue to play golf or not,” said the 31-year-old Spaniard from Valladolid.

“This year was tough. My mum had a lung cancer operation. Obviously when your mum is like this it’s better to be at home with your family because family is more important than golf, and as a family we are so close, but now everything is alright, I’m happy again.

“Because of what happened I haven’t played many tournaments and I didn’t make any cuts, it’s been a struggle off the course. I was struggling with my golf and sometimes you lose your drive to play, but now she’s recovered, I’m just happy to be in Dubai with the sunshine and shooting a 66 on my first round. My game is good, so we’ll keep working.”

Young is level with Alonso on six under par 66 after carding five birdies on her front nine and three birdies and two bogeys on her return.

The 33-year-old Englishwoman credited her locally-based caddie Omar Abdul Aziz Al Bastaki with her round.

“Omar is a member here [at Emirates Golf Club] and he plays off scratch. He’s a good golfer and knows these greens. If I’m a bit unsure of which way the green is going or if it’s downhill, uphill, he’ll be there to guide me.”

Just one stroke behind Alonso and Young sits defending champion and joint record two-time winner Shanshan Feng, however. The Chinese golfer posted a clean round of 67 with three outward birdies and two on the turn to leave her well in contention for a third title.

“I have very good memories in past years here and I’m always really excited about coming back every year — and this year is the same,” said Shanshan. “I was finding all the good memories today and I was really enjoying myself and [was] really relaxed out there.”

Shanshan already has the Ladies European Tour money-list wrapped up coming into this year-ender, but the Rookie of the Year Award is up for grabs between Danish pair Emily Pedersen and Nanna Madsen.

Madsen needs to finish at least second while hoping Pedersen drops to below eighth. But on day one Pedersen hit three under par 69 to sit tied for sixth one stroke clear of Madsen on 70 to finish tied for 15th.

“I’m happy with my start,” said Madsen. “I played some poor rounds recently so I’m just happy to be under par. I’m not really focusing on the rookie title because I’m a bit behind and I just want to have a good result in this tournament. The rookie list is a bonus.”