Golf: Reid's nine lets in Lunn

KAREN LUNN, from Australia, eclipsed the six members of Europe's winning Solheim Cup side when she conjured an astonishing finish to lead the opening round of the KRP World Classic here yesterday.

Lunn shot a three-under-par 69 to lead by one stroke from the South African Laurette Maritz- Atkins. Lisa Hackney, from Staffordshire, won a pounds 13,000 car for a hole in one to finish on 71 and handily placed in a chasing group of four.

Last year Lunn almost quit being a tournament professional. Her fortunes changed with a victory in the Slovenian Open towards the end of the season and she has never looked back.

'Lawrence Farmer, the West Middlesex professional, shortened my swing and my confidence has returned,' Lunn said. 'This is my 10th consecutive round below par and I finished second and sixth in two Australian events before arriving here.'

Lunn, at one under, had been one stroke adrift of Scotland's Dale Reid after 17 holes but she made up six strokes at the 514- yard final hole. Reid twice went into water for a shattering nine, while Lunn rifled a three-wood second shot to 15 feet for a stunning eagle three.

'It was unbearable in the heat and humidity,' Reid said. 'I used four gloves on my way round and the club just slipped out of my right hand on the last hole to undo my earlier work.'

Maritz-Atkins made her move with a burst of three birdies in the first six holes. She was joined by 30 monkeys who had made their way from the jungle at the short 12th hole. Maritz-Atkins still made her par three but then dropped a shot at the short 15th where Hackney had holed out with an eight-iron tee shot. Catrin Nilsmark, on 73, was the best of the six Solheim Cup players. Laura Davies and Alison Nicholas have much ground to make up after shooting a 76, while Trish Johnson took 79 and Kitrina Douglas one stroke more.

KRP WORLD CLASSIC (Kuala Lumpur) Leading first-round scores (GB and Irl unless stated): 69 K Lunn (Aus). 70 L Maritz-Atkins (SA). 71 L Hackney, C Dibnah (Aus), C Panton- Lewis, K Lasken (US). 72 S Mendiburu (Fr), C Hjalmarsson (Swe). 73 L Fairclough, C Nilsmark (Swe). 74 J Forbes, S Waugh (Aus), J Soulsby, D Barnard, D Reid, B New, A Shapcott, K Parker (US), R Hast. Selected: 76 A Nicholas, L Davies. 79 T Johnson. 80 K Douglas.