DORSET star Georgia Hall has set the pace in the opening round of the Lalla Aicha Tour School Final Qualifying event in Morocco.

The 18-year-old Kinson-based professional carded a five-under-par 67 earlier today to lead by one stroke from Spain’s Virginia Espejo at Samanah Golf Club in Marrakech.

Hall birdied the second, third, fifth, seventh and ninth holes to turn in 31 before coming back in level par 36. She picked up her sixth birdie of the day on the 15th hole, but then dropped a shot on the long par-four final hole.

“I played really well today,” said Hall, who won £50,000 Mercedes car for a hole-in-one at the Dubai Ladies Masters last week.

“The front nine, I didn’t play a shot wrong and the putting was really, really good. The back nine I played the long game about the same, just didn’t hole as many.

“The last hole I bogeyed but it’s quite a hard hole. I had a three wood in and it was a par four. I didn’t hit my drive that great and missed a fairly short putt for par but I’m happy.”

Having turned professional in July, just after the Ricoh Women’s British Open, where she tied for 29th, Hall has played in six LETAS events and three additional Ladies European Tour (LET) events as a professional this season.

Hall, who was unable to play a practice round at Samanah due to the late delivery of her golf clubs, has set her sights high in the gruelling five-round contest with a full Ladies European Tour playing card at stake.

“Obviously to get the card is the main thing, but to finish as low as I can, I want to try and win it,” said Hall. “I think if I can keep my mentality to try and win it, then I don’t have to think about top 30. It’s a marathon this week.

“I’d never played this golf course. I walked it and hit a few shots with my friends club and putter but I’m quite happy with how I played it first time,” she added.

“All my birdie putts were within 10 feet and I think on seven I holed a 20-footer. My irons were really good and I was hitting them in close. I was hitting them within 10 or 15 foot on the back nine but some slipped past.

“If I can get my card and play well here I will round off a good year, especially after last week, where I played quite well and was in a good position after the first round.

“Next year is the big year for me. This year was about getting my tour card and getting more experience. I’m really happy with the way that I’m playing at the moment.”