Jack McDonald tied for fourth with a 65 in MENA Tour event
Herati's 62 puts him two clear in Sahara
Kuwait Championship
KUWAIT CITY— Joe Herati kept his
emotions in check and pulled off his career-best round on the MENA Golf Tour to
get his nose in front after the opening round of the inaugural Sahara Kuwait
Championship today
The 25-year-old Englishman, whose father was
diagnosed with brain tumour last week, fired a sizzling eight-under 62 to open
up a two-shot lead over compatriot Stuart Archibald and Fernand Osther of
the Netherlands.
England’s Craig Hinton, the winner of the
Abu Dhabi Open two weeks ago, heads the chasing pack in a
five-man group which includes Lebanon’s Peter Badawi.
Scotland’s Jack McDonald, Fredrik From of
Sweden and England’s Daniel Owen completed the group tied for fourth at
five-under 65 as former English cricketer Craig Kieswetter, playing for the
first time on the MENA Golf Tour, kept himself firmly in contention, carding a
four-under 66.
The day belonged young Herati, who flew off
the gate in style, making back-to-back birdies to set the tone for an excellent
round that contained just one bogey.
“I was just thinking about my father all the
time, but managed to keep the round going. I had everything under control. I
drove the ball well and holed lots of good putts,” said the Leeds native, his
voice choking with emotion.
Playing in his very event on the MENA Golf
Tour, Netherland’s Osther went bogey-free in his opening 65, studded with three
birdies in each half.
“Played really nicely. I don’t think I missed
any green out. Basically I was bang on target. Gave myself plenty of birdie
opportunities and made good use of the par-5s,” said Osther, who made birdies
on both the two long holes.
“If you can drive well off the tee, you can
post a good score and that’s exactly what I did to keep the ball in play,” said
28-year-old Dutch golfer, who turned professional in 2012.
“I like the course. It’s a bit wide open on
the front nine, but it becomes more challenging, especially after the 13th due
to the narrow fairways,” said Osther, who plies his trade on the Pro Golf Tour
in Europe.
Cricketer-turned golfer Kieswetter, who
represented England in 46 one-dayers and 25 T-20 matches, played his last 10
holes in five under to lead the amateur division, one ahead of Brazil’s
Dubai-based Tiago Lobo..
Elsewhere, Zane Scotland, the most prolific
winner on the MENA Golf Tour, returned a 67 to join Scotland’s Paul Doherty and
his compatriot Lee Corfield in a tie for 13th.
FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD
par 70
62 Joe Herati (Eng)
64 Stuart Archibald (Eng), Fernand Osther (Netherlands)
65 Daniel Owen (Eng), Craig Hinton (Eng), Peter Badaway (Lebanon), Jack McDonald (Sco), Fredrik From (Swe)
SELECTED SCORE
67 Paul Doherty (Sco).
TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES
CLICK HERE
FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD
par 70
62 Joe Herati (Eng)
64 Stuart Archibald (Eng), Fernand Osther (Netherlands)
65 Daniel Owen (Eng), Craig Hinton (Eng), Peter Badaway (Lebanon), Jack McDonald (Sco), Fredrik From (Swe)
SELECTED SCORE
67 Paul Doherty (Sco).
TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES
CLICK HERE
Labels: MENA TOUR
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