Darren Clarke has 71 in MENA Tour outing in
United Arab Emirates
MENA TOUR REPORT
from Viren Varma
.
United Arab Emirates
MENA TOUR REPORT
from Viren Varma
RAS AL KHAIMAH – Faycal Serghini and
Per Barth shot matching six-under 66s to share the first round lead as 2016
European Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke returned a 71 at the MENA Golf Tour’s
Ras Al Khaimah Classic in the United Arab Emirates today
Morocco’s Serghini went bogey free while
Sweden’s Barth lit up the back nine with five birdies after making the turn at
one under to take a one-shot lead over the English duo of James Allan (amateur)
and Michael Downes.
A five-man group, headed by Welsh ace Stephen
Dodd and Scotland’s Ted Innes-Ker, led the chasing pack, moving into a tie for
fifth on four under.
Serghini felt he was in control of the
proceedings most of the time after early hiccups.
“With a wayward drive on the first and a
terrible approach on the second, I did not get off to a very good start, but
just managed to save pars. Played steady golf thereafter,” said Serghini, who
played the back nine at four under.
“I felt like I was in the zone most of the
day. Can’t complain after opening with a 66,” said the experienced Moroccan, who
is a three-time runner-up on the tour.
Sweden’s Barth was equally pleased with his
day’s efforts. “I was quite patient out there. Hit almost every green which
meant I was putting for birdie most of the time.
“I was very good off the tee, okay with
approaches and a little better with the putter, which held the round together,”
said the 29-year-old Swede, who recently won the Shaikh Maktoum Dubai Open for
his maiden success on the MENA Golf Tour.
“I could have birdied a couple of more holes
on the front nine, but never mind. I got into the groove coming home and holed
many putts from 13 to 14 feet which was good,”
“I was never in serious trouble out there.
Whenever I missed a shot, I missed in the right place and that kind of kept the
momentum going,” said Barth.
One of the early starters, James Allan
attributed his round to his sharp short game. “I created a lot of scoring
opportunities with my wedges and short irons. I think this is one of my best
rounds on the tour this season as every part of my game fell into place,” said
the 21-year-old amateur from Chelmsford.
Clarke, who is the patron of the MENA Golf
Tour, enjoyed his first round on the tour. “I may have struggled a bit with the
speed of the greens, but overall I had good fun on this course,” said the
42-year-old Ulsterman whose opening round consisted of two birdies and a bogey
Defending champion Ahmed Marjan settled for a
75, but won a word of praise from Clarke, his partner. “He may have left some
shots out there, but he played some good golf,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dodd, a three-time winner on the
European Tour, flew out of the gate with birdies on his first two holes and
kept the momentum rolling all the way through to stay in contention for his
third title on the MENA Golf Tour.
Miles Tunnicliff, a two-time winner on the
European Tour, recorded an early bogey on the third, but bounced back in style,
playing the last 15 holes at four under for a tidy 69.
“I hit a lot of fairways and greens in
regulation, which was good. Overall, it was quite a steady round,” said
Tunnicliff, who managed to save par after a wayward drive at the last with a
25-foot putt.
SCOTSWATCH:
Ted Innes-Ker, the Duke of Roxburghe's son, leads the Scots with a 68 for a share of fifth place.
Next come Aberdeen's Clarke Lutton and Paul Doherty, joint 31st on the 71 mark.
Daniel Kay and Lothians amateur Ben Alexander are joint 37th on 74
FIRST-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 72
66 F Serghini (Mor), P Barth (Swe)
67 J Allan (Eng) (am), M Downes (Eng).
SCOTS' SCORES
68 T Innes-Ker (T5)
73 C Lutton, P Doherty (T31)
74 D Kay, B Alexander (am) (T37)
Labels: MENA TOUR
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home