ENGLAND'S Melissa Reid shot her lowest score as a professional, a flawless eight-under-par 65, to take the lead after the first round of the Turkish Airlines Ladies Open on Sunday.

Reid began her round with four pars before picking up shots on the fifth, sixth and eighth to reach the turn in 33, the 27-year-old then firing five more birdies in the space of seven holes on the back nine.

"I hadn't seen the course, so perhaps that's the way forward," Reid said. "I walked about 12 holes yesterday to look at a few tee shots, but I played about the last seven holes completely blind."

Reid finished one shot ahead of former Solheim Cup partner Dame Laura Davies, who had earlier recovered from a bogey on the first to card eight birdies of her own.

"Just before I went out I saw Laura birdie her last hole so I knew that she'd had a good round, which was nice to see," Reid added. "I knew that there was a low score out there so I tried to keep in touch with her, so to shoot eight under was nice."

Davies, who will be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in July, said: "I had a problem down the first when I moved a twig and my ball moved, but I then hit the shot onto the green, so I figured I hit 18 greens today, which is always a good feeling.

"I drove it well, hit two dodgy tee shots and putted nicely. It was the first time in I don't know how long."