Contributed by Lorna Campbell

Su-Ann Heng

Su-Ann Heng of Singapore Management University leads the local qualifier after Day 1. (Photo courtesy of Fulford PR)

Tanah Merah Country Club, Singapore, February 5, 2009 - Su-Ann Heng is at the top of the leader board after a round of 76 in day one of the HSBC Women's Champions Local Qualifying Tournament.

"I went out there are wanted to have fun. I am playing with some good friends so I enjoyed it. You don't get to play Tanah Merah every day so it was great."

Heng is a student at the Singapore Management University and is studying for a double major in Finance and Marketing. This is her first time taking part in the competition and she is very excited about the thought of getting to play alongside World number two, Yani Tseng, who is a close friend.

"I have been friends with Yani for seven years or so and she is such a great role model for all of us here. She has taken her game to the next level. Even though she is world number two, she is still the same person and I think that is brilliant. It would be so great to play alongside her when she takes part this year as we played together many years ago," she explained.

Lying in second position is Joey Poh with a score of 79. Her brother and one of Singapore's top amateurs' Johnson Poh is acting as her caddie to give her some extra support.

She said, "My putting was off for the first few holes as I didn't feel very confident. It began to pick up a bit on the last few holes. My brother gave me a lot of tips out there about the distance and most of the putts."

Joey is a member of the HSBC Youth Golf Excellence Programme as is Jo Ee Kok who is two shots behind after a round of 81.

Last year's local entry, Amelia Yong finished with an 83 but she is determined to come out strongly tomorrow.

Yong commented, "I need to stay focused and commit to my shots. I am feeling more pressure than last year because of the achievement I had last year and I feel everybody expects something more. I definitely expect something more from myself."

The fourteen hopefuls will tee off tomorrow from 7.15am with three flights of four and the final two ball of Heng and Poh bringing up the rear at 7.55am.

The player with the lowest score after two rounds will take the Local Host Country Invite in the HSBC Women's Champions which features the world's top female golfers and takes place at Tanah Merah Country Club from March 5th to 8th.