By Kent Gray
Finns celebrated the 100th anniversary of the country’s declaration of independence from Russia on Wednesday and few did it with as much style as five golfers 6275km away in Dubai.

Adorned in patriotic white and blue, Noora Tamminen lead the flag-waving quintet with a hole in one on the opening day of the 12th OMEGA Dubai Ladies Classic.

The 27-year-old used a seven iron from 140 yards to ace just her second hole, the Majlis’ par 3 11th, en-route to a four under 68 that left her a shot back of the overnight leader, Thailand’s Supamas Sangchan.

Tamminen’s four-under loop of Emirates Golf Club was a topsy-turvy ride. After the ace she mixed five birdies with three bogeys in a score matched by four other players including compatriot Minea Blomqvist, a two-time Ladies European Tour winner.

Sanna Nuutinen and Ursula Wikstrom were the next best of the Finns with 73s, one-over rounds that left the pair on the projected cut mark. After a four over 76, Krista Bakker has work to do to survive the 36-hole cut and keep Finland’s party rolling.