AUSTRALIAN Carmen Hajjar swapped her shopping bag for her golf clubs and claimed a share of the opening-day lead in the Hongkong Open women's amateur championship at Fanling yesterday.
A final-hole birdie gave the 26-year-old from Brisbane a one-over-par 73 on the Royal Hongkong Golf Club's Eden Course to tie Malaysian international Irene Yeoh at the top of the leaderboard.
Among the 10 players to break 80 were Chinese duo Lam Shiyu and Wong Lixia and Hongkong number one Joann Hardwick who rescued a 77 thanks to three birdies in the last four holes.
However, top billing went to 21-year-old Yeoh and the extrovert Hajjar, whose father's parents hailed from Lebanon and whose mother's family are Irish.
''This is my first overseas trip and I'm mainly here to do some shopping,'' said Hajjar, who since arriving in the territory on Saturday has spent most of her time - and money - searching out bargains in Hongkong's markets.
But the scratch handicapper from Nudgee Golf Club showed her eye for a birdie was no less sharp as she put herself into contention for the top prize in the 54-hole JAL-sponsored tournament.
Despite four three-putts, Hajjar's mature course management was rewarded with four birdies in a round highlighted by a two at the short second where she chipped in from off the back of the green.