Karrie Webb is the leading Australian after the opening round of the first major of the year, the Kraft Nabisco Championship, being played on the Dinah Shore Tournament course at Mission Hills, Rancho Mirage, California.

Webb carded a one-over-par 73 which included three birdies, two bogeys and a double to be tied for 29th position. The Queenslander is chasing China’s Shanshan Feng who posted used seven birdies against one bogey to fire an opening round 66 (-6) and holds a one-stroke lead over South Korean Se Ri Pak and American Michelle Wie.

The two Aussie amateurs in the event has started relatively well. Victorian Su Oh is at two-over-par and tied for 46th, while West Australian Minjee Lee is a further shot back and tied for 60th position. It wasn’t a great day for Katherine Kirk or Lindsey Wright who are at six-over and eight over respectively.

American amateur Angel Yin and South Korean Amy Yang share fourth position at four-under-par, while Jennifer Rosales, Cristie Kerr and Jiyai Shin are a further shot back. A group of five players are at two-unde-par including American Tiffany Joh and South Korean SoYeon Ryu.

In her opening round, Shanshan Feng was able to get some advice on how to play the course from a legend of the game, three-time Kraft Nabisco Champion Amy Alcott.

“I did play with Amy Alcott today. She’s won three times here in the past, and after my first drive off the first tee I was asking her, I said, can you tell me the secrets about winning here? Because before this year I never did well here. So she was telling me all the secrets,” Feng said.

When asked what the secrets were that Alcott shared Feng jokingly replied.

“Well, don’t ask me what the secrets are because that’s a secret. I’ll tell you maybe after we finish Sunday. But I did learn a lot from her. Last year, the first day I shot 6 over here, and I think that is a very big improvement. I do think that I played really well today and had a great time with Amy. I just hope that I can have three more good rounds.”

After firing an opening round 67, Michelle Wie is in prime position to take a run at her first career major championship.

“Like I said before in the press conference, my goal is to be consistent,” Wie said. “Just trying to keep the same tempo every day. Trying to keep on doing the same things. I think it’s been working so far, so I’m just going to keep on doing that.”

While Wie posted a solid number on the first day she still cautioned about the challenges that Mission Hills presents for players going forward in the week.

After the second round the top 70 players and ties will make it through to the week-end.