DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Louise Stahle shot a course-record 8-under 64 Thursday in the first round of the Dubai Ladies Masters, the season-ending event on the 2007 Ladies European Tour.
The 22-year-old Swede had nine birdies and one bogey, and leads Laura Davies and Lisa Hall by three strokes. Sophie Gustafson (68) is tied for fourth with Lisa Holm Sorensen.
Defending champion Annika Sorenstam, who held the previous course record of 65, shot a 2-under 70 and was tied for ninth place.
Stahle, who was born the same year Davies turned professional in 1985, birdied her first four holes and had nine altogether.
"Annika and Laura are players whom I have always looked up to, so it's just great to be ahead of them," Stahle said. "But I do not want to get ahead of myself. This was just the first round and a lot can happen in the next three days.
"I was on a roll today and hopefully I can continue in the same manner."
Sorenstam, looking for her first win of the season after being hampered by neck and back injurie early in the year, birdied her last two holes.
"I drove it well and I feel good on this golf course. It suits my game very well," Sorenstam said. "I missed just three greens, but I could not make my up-and-downs from there. I've just got to stay away from mistakes and things should be fine."
Davies packed six birdies and an eagle into her opening 67, Davies also had a number of highlights, notably the eagle at the 451-yard third, where she hit an 8-iron second shot to 12 feet.
"This is my first time here, and I'm having a great time," said the 44-year-old veteran. "I loved the course in practice and even more so today. It's set up really nicely for me and I played a really solid round of golf.
"I did have three stupid bogeys, and they were all the result of poor chips. The grass is quite tough round the greens," she added. "But apart from that, the rest of my game was in very good shape."
Davies is seeking a second victory this season.
Scot Catriona Matthew -- one of 10 players still in with a shout of earning the $30,000 bonus for topping the season-ending money list on Sunday -- was well-placed on 70. But Matthew, currently in sixth place on the money list, would have been even closer to the lead if she had not hit her second shot into water and taken a double-bogey 6 at the last.
In her professional debut, English Curtis Cup star Melissa Reid shot 74. The top amateur at this year's Women's British Open, Reid surprisingly failed to get a full card at the Ladies' European Tour qualifying school in Italy in October, and is playing this week on a sponsor's invitation.
Among other prominent players in the field, Gwladys Nocera and Iben Tinning were in the group at 72, while those finishing at 73 included current leading money winner Bettina Hauert, Maria Hjorth and Paula Marti. Helen Alfredsson carded a 75, while Natalie Gulbis struggled to a 77.
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