Lee-Anne Pace put together a scintillating bogey-free opening round of eight-under-par 64 on Wednesday to lie second after round one of the Ladies European Tour’s Dubai Moonlight Classic on the Faldo Course at the Emirates Golf Club.

The South African Women’s Open champion made an eagle and six birdies without dropping a shot as she settled in one shot behind the course record-equalling nine-under-par 63 set by Mexico’s Maria Fassi. Pace was one shot ahead of Germany’s Olivia Cowan, and Sweden’s Jessica Karlsson was fourth on six-under. Lydia Hall of Wales and Alice Hewson of England shared fifth on five-under.

“To shoot bogey-free is always very nice, I nearly birdied the last hole as well. I played very solid and made all the fairways which makes it a lot easier into the greens,” said Pace, who is a 10-time LET winner. “It’s not a terribly long golf course so you can attack the pins and the greens are holding as well.”

Nicole Garcia, the other South African in the field, opened with a seven-over-par 79.

“It is of course always good to be under par, but it was pretty flawless out there today,” said Fassi of her round. “It is my first time playing in the dark, but it was awesome! I enjoyed it a lot. The golf was great and I’m very happy to be here.

“I think it was a matter of time for me to be able to put a round like today’s together. I have been working very hard to see something like this happen so it’s very motivating to see a round like today and have all that hard work pay off.”