Britain's Trish Johnson fired a first round level-par 72 as American rookie Diana D'Alessio shocked the star names by posting a 67 to lead the final major of the women's season, the $1.2 million du Maurier Classic at Royal Ottawa yesterday.

Johnson was encouraged by a score that would have been even better if she had not dropped shots at the first and 18th. Defending champion and pre-event favourite, Karrie Webb, who is aiming for a third major of the year, was level par after 12 holes.

For D'Alessio, it was a whole new experience as she took a two-shot early lead over South Korea's Se Ri Pak. The 25-year-old from New Jersey has made only four cuts from 12 events this year.