Ashleigh Simon got her Dubai Ladies Masters off to a flying start with a round of 69 at Emirates Golf Club on Thursday and joined a tie for fourth place.

The two-time Ladies European Tour winner started on the 10th and made eight pars before netting her first birdie at the 18th hole.

She made the turn and bogeyed the first hole, but displayed her resolve on the famous Dubai layout with birdies at the second and third holes.

She added a final birdie at the par-four ninth and signed for three under par, two shots behind first-round leader Florentyna Parker.

‘The last three years I’ve missed the cut (in Dubai),’ said Parker. ‘It’s been very disappointing. I was thinking back to 2010 (when I finished fourth). I think I started with a five or six-under on the back nine, which was my front nine. And I said, “I need to get that feeling back and somehow do the same.”’

Heading up the chase were Sophie Giquel-Bettan and Cheyenne Woods, who each shot four under par 68 to share second place on Friday.

‘I thought I played a really solid round, hit the ball well and gave myself a lot of chances for birdies and my putter felt great, so I’m really happy with today,’ she said.