Ian Poulter made good on his goal to upstage fellow Briton Luke Donald at the Australian Masters, shooting a sparkling six-under-par 65 to take a one-shot lead after the first round Thursday. Both players soaked up the morning sunshine in sublime conditions at Melbourne's Victoria Golf Club, but it was the smartly-dressed Poulter turning the most heads as he notched seven birdies to edge early pace-setter Ashley Hall of Australia. World No. 1 Donald rolled in only two birdies and struggled to build momentum in his first professional tournament Down Under, but displayed enough of his trademark control to finish with a blemish-free 69, four strokes behind. Hall briefly threatened to steal both the Britons' thunder with a barnstorming 29 on his first nine holes, but stumbled with a bogey and a double-bogey in his last five. Holder Stuart Appleby shrugged off a twinge in his lower back to card a one-under 70, while former US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy was a further shot adrift after a scratchy 71. Italian teenager Matteo Manassero, the youngest winner on the European Tour, is 11 off the pace after struggling to a 76. Thompson takes lead American teenager Lexi Thompson has taken a two-shot lead after the second round of the Dubai Ladies Masters and is looking to become the second youngest winner on the European Tour. The 16-year-old Thompson, who is the youngest LPGA Tour winner, strung together six birdies on her way to a bogey-free 6-under 66 and a total of 138 for the tournament. Tied for 16th after the first day, Thompson got her short game working. Swedish veteran Sophie Gustafson (67) and Margherita Rigon (68) were two shots back. Michelle Wie is four shots back after a 67. The 22-year-old American, who is looking for her first win of the year, bounced back from an opening round 73 in which her shaky putting led to three bogeys. wood leads by 5 In Thailand, Lee Westwood shot a 12-under 60 for the lowest round of his career Thursday to lead the Thailand Golf Championship by five strokes from John Daly. After reaching the turn in 29, the Englishman finished his first round at the Amata Spring Country Club with 10 birdies and an eagle. “I've never shot a 60 before,” Westwood said. “A couple of 61s in Germany. Billy (Foster, Westwood's caddie) said my 62 two weeks ago at the Nedbank (Challenge) was as good a round as he's ever seen but he said today was better.” After going 7 under through six holes, Westwood said he had set his sights on a round of 59. “It was in my mind to get to 13 under but it wasn't to be,” he said. “I gave myself a few chances. Left one short on the hole on 11 and one short on 14. Had a good chance on 16 as well. “I don't think you can be disappointed with a 60. I have to be a fairly harsh critic of myself to walk away disappointed.” Daly's round of 65 included five birdies and an eagle on the par-5 11th. Gregory Bourdy of France and Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand were joint third, eight shots adrift of Westwood.
