DORSET’S Georgia Hall soared to the top of the leaderboard at the Ricoh Women’s British Open before revealing a pep-talk from legend Gary Player had spurred her.

Wimborne-based Hall made a flying start to her second round by carding four birdies on the trot from the second to the fifth on her way to shooting a stunning five-under-par 67 at Kingsbarns.

Hall, who is set to be named in the European team for the Solheim Cup later this month, climbed above overnight leader Michelle Wie having signed for a bogey-free 68 in her first round.

The 21-year-old, a keen Cherries supporter, partnered nine-time major winner Gary Player at the Gary Player Invitational at Wentworth earlier this month.

And she admitted the experience had stood her in good stead for her double-header north of the border having finished tied ninth at last week’s Scottish Open.

Bournemouth-born Hall, who started out at a children’s golf clinic at Canford Magna when she was seven, was asked whether Player had given her any pearls of wisdom.

She replied: “I played in the Gary Player Invitational and got lucky because I managed to play with Gary for 18 holes and it was great.

“He said a few things. He said I should take a pad out with me and write down how many times I get up and down from 100 yards.

“And he said if you are going to practise for three hours, you should practise your short game for two hours. He talked about short game and said that you should never feel sorry for yourself and never give up.

“So those two things were big to me. If he is going to say that then I am certainly not going to give up on the golf course if I have a bad hole.”

Discussing her round, Hall, who was schooled at Elmrise Primary and Oakmead, added: “I have never before had four birdies in a row so was very happy to be four-under after five.

“I holed a great putt on the second and had a tap-in on the third. I holed a 20-footer on the fourth and an eight-footer on the fifth. I was hitting it quite close, which made things a bit easier.

“I am playing really well and am especially putting well so that is certainly helping at the moment. I hit most fairways today but hit it in a pot bunker on 16 which gave me a bogey.

“I try to be level headed all the time, whether I get a birdie or a bogey. I am just trying to get as many birdies as I can and the course was quite scorable today because it wasn't that windy. I tried to get off to a good start, which I did, and managed to hole a couple of good putts on the back nine."