GEORGIA Hall was within touching distance of the frontrunners at the Buick Championship following an excellent first round.

The Parkstone-affiliated player carded a two-under-par 70 at Shanghai Qizhong Garden Golf in only her second Ladies European Tour event as a pro.

Four birdies and two bogeys placed former Curtis Cup star Hall in a tie for 16th and seven shots off the lead held by Australia’s Stacey Keating.

In close attendance were Shanshan Feng (seven-under) and fellow Chinese Xiyu Lin (six-under). Just behind, So-Young Jang, Dan Li and Al-Chen Kuo were locked on four-under.

Former Oakmead College pupil Hall is due to play her second round in the early hours of tomorrow morning with a tee time of 7am (12midnight BST).

Australia’s Whitney Hillier and Thailand’s Kusuma Meechai are set to be her playing partners.

Also in the field in China is Hordle’s Liz Young, who trains at Parley Golf Centre.

Young fired an opening round of one-over-par and was just below the cut line following the opening 18 holes.

She is due to begin her second round at 5.20am BST tomorrow alongside Italy’s Diana Luna and China’s Wei Wei Zhang.