By Kent Gray
The Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) amateurs are on the cusp of yet more Dubai Golf Trophy glory- and this time with a feel-good silver lining.

Following an afternoon of near utter dominance on the Faldo course at Emirates Golf Club, the EGF team will take a formidable 11-5 lead over the UAE PGA Tour pros into Sunday’s singles at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

The Mike Bolt-captained UAE PGA pros will need something special on Earth to reverse the six-point deficit in today’s 16-singles showdowns if they are to avoid a sixth successive loss in the Ryder Cup-style matches administered by Dubai Golf.

It will be no mean feat given the EGF players are also determined to seal Ahmed Skaik’s place in folklore as the event’s first Emirati – and winning – captain.

Things started well enough for the desperate pros as Saturday’s morning foursomes were shared 4-4 despite a mammoth 8&7 socking for Dong Lee and Jonathan Craddock at the hands of amateur talisman Josh Hill and Jay Mullane.

But it went horribly pear-shaped in the afternoon fourballs on the Faldo as the EGF amateurs won 7-1. Only Luke Plumb and Louis Gaughan saved the pros from an embarrassing whitewash courtesy of their 3&2 win over Max Burrow and Arjun Gupta. At the top of the order, their was another lesson for Lee and Craddock who were beaten 5&3 by Hill and Mullane.

Lee and Craddock will be happy to see the back of Hill and Mullane with veteran Dubai Trophy player Malcolm Young handed the task of taking on Hill in the singles while Mullane will face Pro Sports’ Graham Forbes.

HISTORY-MAKERS: Hyeonji Kang, Natalii Gupta, Anneke Strobach and Olivia Jackson.

It was also a tough day for the UAE Pro women who are playing the Dubai Trophy for the first time – this year in an exhibition match ahead of being incorporated into the event proper in 2022.

Olivia Jackson and Anneke Strobach were edged 1up by Hyeonji Kang and Natalii Gupta in the morning foursomes and then beaten comprehensively, 5&4, in the fourballs.

Jackson will play Gupta and Strobach will meet Kang on Sunday knowing they need to both win their singles encounters to level the exhibition.

But the focus will be on how Bolt’s pros responded to being cornered on Earth.

The post What on Earth can the UAE pros do to prevent a EGF amateur six-peat? appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Can Michael Bolt finally be the captain to halt the amateur’s five-year Dubai Golf Trophy dynasty?

We’re about to find out with the teams for the April 10-11 Ryder Cup-style matches between Bolt’s UAE PGA Tour pros and the Ahmed Skaik-captained Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) amateurs released.

REWIND: UAE PGA captain Luke Plumb on fifth straight Dubai Trophy loss: ‘The EGF top 5 did a number on us’

Bolt’s 16-man team for the 22nd edition at Emirates Golf Club (Faldo course) and Jumeirah Golf Estates (Earth course) features a number of familiar faces including freshly minted UAE PGA Championship winner Luke Plumb and David Gray who edged Bolt 1-up to win his third UAE matchplay championship recently.

UAE PGA Championship winner Luke Plumb is set to be a key member of the professional team.

Skaik, the first Emirati to captain a Dubai Trophy team, will partner UAE national teammate Khalid Yousuf in the Saturday foursomes against Purna Sharma & Malcolm Young.

There are some particularly juicy top of the order match-ups with amateur team talisman Josh Hill teaming with Jay Mullane to take on Dong Lee and Jonathan Craddock while Arjun Gupta and Yash Majmudar take on Bolt and beaten UAE matchplay semifinalist Sujjan Singh.

For the first time, women will compete in the Dubai trophy with Olivia Jackson and Anneke Strobach representing the UAE PGA and Hyeonji Kang and Natalii Gupta, Arjun’s sister, the EGF amateurs. They will play a separate competition this week ahead of the women being incorporated into the full Dubai Trophy in 2022.

The Faldo will host the foursomes and fourball matches on Saturday ahead of the singles on Earth Sunday.

[divider] [/divider]

UAE PGA Professionals v EGF Amateurs

Saturday Foursomes
Match 1: Dong Lee & Jonathan Craddock v Josh Hill & Jay Mullane
Match 2: Michael Bolt (Captain) & Sujjan Singh v Arjun Gupta & Yash Majmudar
Match 3: Luke Plumb & Phil Waine v Viggo Sorensen & Zubair Firdaus
Match 4:  Graham Forbes & Louis Gaughan v Toby Bishop & Sam Mullane
Match 5: David Gray & Ryan Smith v Steve Kelbrick & Max Burrow
Match 6: Purna Sharma & Malcolm Young v Ahmed Skaik (Captain) & Khaled Yousuf
Match 7: Bishnu Sharma & Sam McLaren v Dan Byrne & Niklas Korjonen
Match 8: Michael Major & Thomas Ogilvie v Gordon Munro & Jake Wiltshire
Ladies: Olivia Jackson & Anneke Strobach v Hyeonji Kang & Natalii Gupta

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By John Huggan
It is early to be sure, but initial signs would indicate that the European Tour’s new and more stringent pace-of-play policy is having its desired effect. In a meeting with members of the media at last week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, senior referee Andy Macfee outlined the data amassed over the first two days of the tournament. On both, the 132-strong field got themselves around the 7,642-yard layout quicker than they had, in similar weather, one year earlier. (Comparisons drawn from the weekend play were impossible; 12 months ago the competitors played in two-balls, this year three-balls were needed).

“In the first round, play was ten minutes quicker,” revealed Macfee. “In the second round it was six minutes quicker. On average, the first round took four hours, 34 minutes (three minutes over the recommended time) and one day later it was the same. Perhaps even more importantly, the flow of play was brilliant. The players were definitely more aware of how long they were taking to hit. The absence of waiting for the group in front to move on drew favourable comments from just about every competitor. And we want them to get used to that going forward.”

Still, best not to get too carried away. As Macfee was quick to emphasize, the reduced size of the field last week (lack of daylight meant a field of 132 rather than a full-size 156) did bring certain advantages. For one thing, when the first groups out on either side of a two-tee start reached their tenth tees, they were not forced to wait. That is all but impossible when the field is bigger. Knowing there will be an inevitable delay at the turn, does, according to the veteran official, apply something of a subconscious brake to proceedings.

“The only way to really improve flow over the first two days is for us to put space into the course,” said Macfee. “And the only way to do that is by reducing the field. Which is tough for us to do as a members organization (translation: turkeys do not vote for Thanksgiving). After the cut we do have another option. This week we used an 11-minute interval between groups rather than 10. We will be doing that whenever we can.”

Surprisingly perhaps, but certainly impressively in the first week of this new and unfamiliar initiative, only three bad times were given out over the four days in Abu Dhabi. Previously, those misdemeanours would have been scrubbed at the end of each round. But now they are carried forward. A bad time on Thursday and another on Sunday, for example, means a one-shot penalty. And regular offenders will also face the prospect of heavier fines.

All of which seems to be having an effect. Although a handful of the usual suspects – no names but they know who they are – did come close to taking too long, they stayed just within the limits. In fact, only one breach was perpetrated by a player familiar with the European Tour. On day one rookie Viktor Hovland took 59 seconds (the prescribed limit is 40 seconds) to hit a putt on the 13th green. During the same round, local amateur Ahmed Skaik loitered over a shot on the second hole for 109 seconds (59 seconds over). And on the final day South African Erik Van Rooyen spent six seconds too long weighing up his approach shot.

“Viktor’s problem was that he took too long to get the line on his ball pointing exactly at the hole,” said Macfee. “But it was explained to him where he went wrong. He clearly listened. One day later we went back to check and he was much improved.”

Indeed, it was difficult to find even one dissenting voice amongst the players. Former Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn – also a long-time chairman of the player’s tournament committee – was just one who had nothing but good things to say about the new initiative.

“Pace of play has been great this week,” said the Dane. “There’s not been much moaning, either. It seems like the players have said to themselves, ‘well, this is it.’ It was important that our referees were proactive. They have had many good conversations with the players. Without naming any names, the refs have singled out those they know are slow and had big conversations with them. So there has been a good feeling as everyone tries to get on with it. Hopefully, this solves a problem that has been in the game for a long, long time. If nothing else we are sending a good signal to the world that we are taking this seriously.”

The chats Bjorn refers to have taken place over the last few months. As Macfee pointed out, there is more to this than just players playing slowly. Other factors were coming into play. Ignorance of basic rules was one of the most prominent – and irritating. Too often, referees were being called out to adjudicate rulings the players really should have been able to sort out for themselves. So education on the seven or eight basic rules was required.

“We now have mandatory rules testing for every player on tour,” continued Macfee. “They get two chances to pass and if they don’t, either myself or (chief referee) John Paramor will be wanting to know why. We will sit them down and analyze where they are going wrong. It’s funny though. Everyone seems to be taking it seriously. Every time I’ve gone into the player’s lounge this week I’ve been stopped by someone and asked about one of the questions in the test. So it’s a talking point.”

As an extension of that interaction, the tour has instituted what might be termed a “pod system,” where new members from the qualifying school and the Challenge Tour have been placed in groups of eight and assigned a referee they can approach with any issues.

“Because we don’t have the resources, we can’t have as many officials on the Challenge Tour as we do on the main tour,” explained Macfee. “Because they are placed under less scrutiny, it is, therefore, easier for players there to develop a slower game. Those are the guys we have been talking to. The sooner they realize they have to play quicker, the better.”

Not a bad motto for any tour, come to think of it.

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By Kent Gray
The ultimate prize is dreamy – not only a start in the Masters at Augusta National but also an invite to the 148th Open Championship at Royal Portrush next July. But for the UAE’s Ahmed Skaik and Abdullah Al Musharrekh, simply making the 36-hole cut at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (ACC) in Singapore this week would be a huge win.

The duo are both playing their second AAC’s at Sentosa Golf Club with Skaik off the 10th tee in his first round at 12.40pm (8.40am UAE time) on Thursday, 10 minutes ahead of Musharrekh who in turn goes off five minutes before Dubai-domiciled Indian No.1 Rayhan Thomas begins his legitimate title challenge from the 1st tee.

Skaik missed the cut at Royal Wellington Golf Club in New Zealand last year but has now finished his International Studies degree from the American University of Dubai which allows golf to take over as his top priority again. The big picture for the 21-year-old is to represent the UAE at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, meaning a professional career beckons. The AAC is a learning curve along the way to the paid ranks.

“It’s not been a very good season for me as the focus was more on studies,” Skaik said. “But I am now done and have started concentrating on my golf again. This is the biggest event we play all year and I have tried to prepare with it in mind.

“I have a few important events after this like the Pan Arab Games, so I am hoping all my hard work will pay off, starting this week.”

Rayhan Thomas, the Dubai-based Indian No.1, tees it up in practice at Sentosa G.C.
Photo by Joy Chakravarty

The first step is to survive Friday’s halfway cut, no cinch given the calibre of the field assembled for the 10th edition of the event, considered among the top five amateur events globally. The 120-player field is annually comprised of the top male amateurs from the 41 Asia Pacific Golf Confederation member organisations.

“The level here is pretty high. And as I said, I haven’t been playing regularly earlier in the year. But I know that if I play to my potential, I can post a good result this week,” Skaik said.

Musharrekh has just returned from South America where he was working with Abu Dhabi-based investment company Mubadala for the past four years. He played in the inaugural AAC in 2009 and need only look as far as his younger brother for motivation. Ahmed Al Musharrekh holds the record of best finish by a UAE golfer in the AAC (T-24 at even par), coincidently when Singapore last hosted the tournament in 2011.

“Ahmed played very well that year. He was very consistent and shot two sub-par rounds. That was one of the proudest moments for UAE golf. And yes, that gives me motivation,” said Abdullah.

“I was busy with my career with Mubadala and then did my national service. Golf wasn’t a priority for almost four-five years. But I am now back in the UAE and I want to be part of the national team on a regular basis.

“I am a very competitive person, so I know golf is not going to be a simple leisure sport for me.”

The Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship was created in February 2009 as a joint initiative to develop the game by the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation, the Masters Tournament and The R&A. Yuxin Lin, at 17, became the third AAC champion from China after finishing with a birdie and eagle in the final round to win by three strokes at Royal Wellington last year.

The post Skaik and Musharrekh poised to do UAE proud at Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

It transpires the UAE national team captain is known regionally as Khalid Yousuf (including in every Emirates Golf Federation media release we’ve ever received) and was listed as such for his first four appearances at the World Amateur Teams Championship.

But it turns out the +1.3 handicapper’s actual surname is Al Jasmi, the moniker by which he goes on social media and has been listed as in his past two appearances at the biennial Eisenhower championship.

Confused? So were we (apologies Khalid!). But we got there in the end and can confirm that when the 29-year-old tees it up at Carton House in Ireland tomorrow in the 31st Eisenhower Trophy, it will mark his seventh appearance at the world’s premier teams’ championship.

Smooth as silk … I wish #golf #dubai #uae

A post shared by KAJ (@khalid_al_jasmi) on May 5, 2016 at 9:51am PDT

I should have come here years ago #heavenonearth

A post shared by KAJ (@khalid_al_jasmi) on Sep 3, 2018 at 11:51am PDT

RELATED: Dubai-domiciled Rayhan Thomas ready to do India proud at Eisenhower Trophy

And that, once you finally nut it out, is mightily impressive as the UAE have only contested the Eisenhower Trophy nine times in total.

Yousuf/Al Jasmi has played 21 rounds in his six appearances (three times the event was reduced to 54 holes due to inclement weather, thus the usual number of rounds) since his debut as a 14-year-old in Puerto Rico in 2004. His best score was a 71 in his last round – in Japan in 2014 – while he boasts an average of 79.71.

He’ll hope to bring his personal average down further in Ireland where the UAE are out to better their previous Eisenhower best of 50th place at the 2008 tournament in Adelaide.

“This event not only allows me but the rest of the UAE National golf program the opportunity to compete at the highest level against some the games future stars,” Yousuf/Al Jasmi said.

“This gives our team the chance to meet other golfers from around the world while making connections with other federations that we can use to help develop our program in the UAE.”

Yousuf/Al Jasmi didn’t play two years ago but lefty Ahmed Skaik and Saif Thabet are back from Mexico where the UAE finished 65th.

UAE’S TOP NATIONAL GOLFERS DUBLIN BOUND FOR THE WORLD AMATEUR TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP – @IGFgolf – https://t.co/bl1zgefVjL pic.twitter.com/URHNaJI7pA

— Emirates Golf Fed. (@EGFuaegolf) September 4, 2018

Thabet, now 30 and playing off scratch, was the UAE’s best in Mexico, firing rounds of 86-78-80-78 to finish 36 over par in 174th place individually, two strokes better than now 21-year-old +2.2 handicapper Skaik.

Yousuf/Al Jasmi leads the UAE off on Wednesday on Carton House’s O’Meara layout (the 72-hole strokeplay event will also be played on the Montgomerie course) at 1.21pm local time (4.21pm UAE time). Skaik follows 11 minutes later at 4.32pm UAE time ahead of Thabet at 4.43pm UAE time.

For the record (why waste all that research) the UAE first played the Eisenhower Trophy in 2000 with Edward Hesson Jnr, Vikramjeet Singh Judge, Sung Joo Cho and Walid Al-Attar finishing 51st.

RELATED: Meet Othman Almulla who is set to represent Saudi Arabia at his third WATC

The post Khalid Yousuf’s Eisenhower Trophy longevity is impressive, once it becomes clear appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Thabet’s five-under, second-round loop of the Abu Dhabi links followed a wind-swept opening 73 and saw him capture the prestigious crown for the second time with a record four-under par aggregate of 140.

He beat Ahmed Skaik by eight shots after one bad back nine hole in the second round cost Skaik who signed for scores of 73-75. Hassan Al Musharrekh rounded out the podium after rounds of 73-80 for a 157 total.

“To win this event twice under the patronage of His Highness Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan is a big honour,” said Thabet. “Having my name carved on the trophy and to go down in UAE golf history for firing the lowest score at this event means a lot to me. My hard work is paying off and by shooting my lowest round of my career is proof of that. I knew I was mentally and physically prepared. I think the turning point was when I got three birdies in a row during my second round on 11, 12, and 13.

Thabet is presented with the Presidents Cup by HH Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan from the Minister of Culture, Youth, and Social Development.

“Moving forward I am going to get back to the driving range and gym and continue to work on my game. I will better my game through the EGF Order of Merit in prep for national team events. I also have my eye on making a spot on the amateur Dubai Trophy Team. I look forward to continue to represent my country locally and internationally.”

Abdulla Al Musharrekh won the net title with a 144 aggregate at the HSBC sponsored event which attracted a record field of 82, plus 18 players in the new Par 3 Championship.

Reema Al Heloo clinched back-to-back ladies titles with a 167 gross score for 23-over-par. Eida Al Muhairbi’s 146, two-over par, got the job done in the ladies net category.

Obaid Al Heloo shot a championship total of 177 to claim his first ever UAE Presidents Cup victory ahead of runner-up Rashid Al Emadi in the Junior division with Khaled Al Mutawa taking the net prize with a 178 total.

Yas Links’ challenging Academy Course hosted the Par 3 championship contested by 18 members of the EGF Foundation Squad aged between 8 and 15. Rashid Al Jassmy won ahead of his brother Sultan Al Jassmy with Saad Al Zarouni third on countback.

All the UAE Presidents Cup winners.

The post Thabet fires five-under PB at Yas Links to win UAE Presidents Cup in record fashion appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Invites to next year’s U.S. Masters at Augusta National and 147th Open Championship at Carnoustie are on the line for the 17-year-old Dubai-based world No.26 at Royal Wellington over the next four days.

Thomas, who enjoyed the sights from atop Mt. Victoria in New Zealand’s capital before making the 30 minute drive north to Royal Wellington for final practice and the opening ceremony, has been drawn alongside New Zealand hope Ryan Chisnall and Australian Dylan Perry for the opening 36 holes. The trio have a late tee time Thursday – 1.50pm local time (4.50am UAE time) – meaning they are likely to encounter Wellington’s infamous winds.

Yu Chun-an (Chinese Taipei), Nick Voke (New Zealand) and Rayhan Thomas (India) with the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship trophy atop Mt. Victoria in Wellington, NZ. Photo courtesy: David Paul Morris/ AAC

“The wind seems to be blowing pretty hard so it’s going to be an interesting event,” Thomas told Golf Digest Middle East. “You’ve got to keep the ball low . If the wind dies, it’s score-able but if doesn’t, it’s just about trying to make pars.”

Thomas completed his practice with 10 holes and some range and putting green work overnight after playing the full course on Tuesday and declared it in “ fantastic shape”

“The Masters and Open invite would be awesome. It excites me and gives me a little extra inspiration to try to reach something like Augusta and Carnoustie,” he said. “I mean those places are like the holy grails of golf, to hopefully play there one day would be awesome and meeting all the Augusta officials and members today at the opening ceremony really makes you want to be there so I’m really excited and can’t wait to get going.”

Final practice at Royal Wellington for Thomas. Photo courtesy David Paul Morris/AAC

Meanwhile, Ahmed Skaik and Mohamed Al Hajeri will represent the UAE at Royal Wellington.

Skaik, who won individual gold at the most recent GCC Championship and has three MENA Tour appearances under his belt, is off 30 minutes before Thomas in a group including a Fijian and Samoan player.

Al Hajeri, sent to New Zealand for the experience, is off 10 minutes after Skaik (4:30am UAE time) in a group including Bahrain’s Abdulla Sultan Saleh.

“The course is in great condition. With that said, the landing areas on the fairways are tighter than I am used too and the greens are playing very fast,” said Al Hajeri. “In the afternoon the winds will pick up giving all the players even more of a challenge. I am excited to play and the talent is endless here. I am just going to take it a shot at a time and enjoy this experience.”

Here’s a preview of the event from New Zealand Golf, the host federation:

And coverage from the opening ceremony:

The post Thomas a warrior in waiting for Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Shergo Kurdi is a huge Adam Scott fan, utterly beguiled by the Australian’s graceful swing. We suspect the Jordanian teen might be just as taken by Darren Clarke by week’s end in Aqaba.

In another grouping masterstroke by the MENA Tour, the 13-year-old will play the first two rounds of Jordan’s inaugural 54-hole Ayla Golf Championship in the inspiring company of the 2011 Open champion on Thursday and Friday.

England-domiciled Kurdi hopes to represent Jordan at the 2020 Tokyo and/or 2024 Paris Olympics and knows a front row seat watching the battled-hardened European Tour and Ryder Cup star ply his trade can only help make that dream reality one day.

“It will be some experience to savour,“ said Kurdi. ”I am sure I will be able to take a lot of positives from the week that will stand me in good stead for the future.”

Kurdi has already served notice of his burgeoning talent, winning the U-15 Pan-Arab Junior Championship and the Surrey county title before making the cut in last week’s Golf Citizen Abu Dhabi Open following rounds of 75-74-77 at Yas Links (the top 50 players plus ties – professionals and amateurs – make the 36 hole cut at MENA Tour events although there must be a minimum of 10 amateurs).

After first hitting balls at the age of two with his father, Moussa, Kurdi Jnr has reportedly won 113 junior tournaments, mostly in England where he pursues his golfing career.

“These are still early days, but the aim for him is to represent Jordan in the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympics and then, hopefully, the Summer Olympic Games in 2020, or maybe 2024,” said Moussa.

Kurdi is supported by the Jordanian Golf Federation and attached to Ayla Golf Club, a new stop on the Pro-Am developmental circuit. He also has the impetus of the MENA Tour’s “Project 300” behind him. The initiative aims to deliver at least one regional player to the Olympics by 2020. Players hoping to qualify for Tokyo must get within 300 in the world rankings, thus the moniker.

The Jordanian will be joined by some of the best amateur talent in the region on the Greg Norman designed- Ayla G.C., including Khalid Yousuf and Ahmed Skaik (both UAE), Saudi Arabia’s Othman Almulla and Oman’s Azaan Al Rumhy. The Arab players will all be hoping to match up to the standard set by English 21-year-old Todd Clements this season. The reigning English Amateur champion is a runaway leader of the amateur order of merit after runner-up finishes at the Dubai Creek Open and at Yas Links last week.

Whoever gets up to claim amateur honours will have played well, Clarke says.

“The course is just magnificent, one of the best I have played in recent years. It will present a fair test to the players this week,” Clarke said.

Related: Darren Clarke headlines strong field for Jordan as OOM race heats up

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Buamaim’s long-term dream for the tour is, of course, to unearth young, Olympic Games-quality Arab stars, but he couldn’t grumble at the quality of Barker’s golf Monday, a sizzling 66 helping the 19-year-old South African open up a two shot lead at the Golf Citizen Abu Dhabi Open.

MJB will also be heartened by the hot streak Todd Clements is currently riding after the English amateur eased into second place with a 68. Eight players share third after 69s, the tour’s most decorated player in Zane Scotland and the producer of Monday’s shot of the day, South African Wayne Stroebel, among them. Stroebel holed a wedge on the 141-yard par 3 13th for his first career ace.

But the day belonged to Barker who opened his round with three successive birdies, was five under through seven and added further gains on the 13th and 16th to cancel out a lone bogey on the 10th.

“Everything flowed quite smoothly out there. I struck the ball beautifully, putted nicely and my approaches were relatively close, creating plenty of birdie opportunities,” said Barker, a professional barely a year who is playing Yas Links on a special MENA Tour invitation.

“I had a lot of fun playing on this course, which is in great condition and look forward to having some more good times in the next two rounds.”

Jamie Elson, meanwhile, made the early move in the all-important pro order of merit race. The Englishman signed for a two under 70, three shots better than Swede Fredrik From, the only man above him in the points standings save for South African MG Keyser who has abandoned his OOM hopes to chase a Asian Tour card in Malaysia.

Yas Links-attached Luke Joy has ground to make up after an opening 74 while English compatriot Andrew Marshall remains in the OOM conversation after a 71.

Playing in his second MENA Tour event in three weeks this season, former Open champion Darren Clarke carded a solid 70.

After finishing tied second with Rayhan Thomas at The Dubai Creek Open and 17th at last week’s Golf Citizen Classic at The Els, Clements needs another strong week to zero in on the top 50 of the World Amateur Golf Rankings. The 21-year-old Essex lad, currently ranked 64th, has started his mission strongly by mixing five birdies with a solitary bogey on the 15th.

“I started off well, making four birdies in the first seven holes and that set pretty much the tone for the round,” Clements said. “I played good, solid golf and made no major mistakes which was the key.”

Clements leads the amateur battle by two shots from Kenyan Agil Is-hag (70). Englishman Taylor Carter (71) is third while and Saudi Arabia’s Othman Almulla, England’s Robert Horridge and the UAE’s Khalid Yousuf shared fourth after even par 72s.

Ahmed Skaik was the next best of the UAE national team players with a 75 but the remainder of local contingent now have a very clear line in the sand with regards the level required to compete on the MENA Tour.

Ahmed Al Musharrekh, playing in the company of former Ryder Cup captain Clarke, left himself a mountain to climb after dropping six shots in his last five holes en-route to a six-over 78 while Abdalla Al Musharrekh carded an 84 (+12) and Sohail Al Marzooqi a 19-over 91.

For full scoreboard, click here

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