AKI TAKAMURA, who plays on the Japanese Tour, and little-known Dane, Iben Tinning, shared the lead on five-under-par 68 after the first round of the British Women's Open at Woburn yesterday.
The pair are one ahead of a cosmopolitan group of six that includes Sweden's former world number one Annika Sorenstam and the 1988 champion, Corinne Dibnah.
The performance from 37-yearold Dibnah was positively heroic. She was suffering from severe back spasms and was in such agony that she had to call a doctor on the 13th fairway. Helped by a muscle relaxant she continued to limp her way up the leaderboard.
"When I woke up it was a nightmare and I really just went out hoping to punt it up the fairway and not disgrace myself. But I'm sure I'll be fit to play tomorrow."
Laura Davies, the 1986 champion, recovered from a shaky start to stay in touch on 72 after a day of calm, ideal scoring conditions. "I was always playing catch-up," Davies said. Karrie Webb, the pre-event favourite, dropped shots at the last two holes for a 71.
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