After what will be a near 16-month hiatus, the remodelled 10-tournament regional development circuit will be re-launched at Ayla Golf Club in Jordan from February 9-11.

But there are three key dates before the US$100,000 season opener which fronts a five-tournament spring swing in Jordan, Kuwait and Dubai (the five remaining events in an Oct.-Nov. autumn window will be announced along with the tour’s first naming rights sponsor and a major co-sanctioning agreement soon).

Key among the three pre-season events is a 36-hole qualifier in January from which the top three players will go on to contest the 30th Omega Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club from Jan. 24-27.

The ‘2019 Omega Dubai Desert Classic Shootout’, to be held at Dubai Hills on Jan. 20-21, is a coup in that will not only assist in rekindling stalled public interest in the MENA Tour but ensures the tour’s membership more than the clichéd “stairway to stardom” peddled in the new season PR. In another nod to regional development, the top-10 players on the second tier UAE PGA Tour will be invited to play the shootout alongside the top-60 players exempted from the 2017 MENA Tour order of merit (OOM) and the first 50 players who signed up for January’s Q-School.

Related: WIN a four-ball at Dubai Hills Golf Club!

There will also be an invite to the European Tour’s Maybank Championship at Saujana Golf and Country Club in Kuala Lumpur from March 21-24 for the OOM leader after the five spring events. Indeed, the top five players on the money list at the halfway stage of the 2019 MENA Tour season will be rewarded; the second placed player will tee it up in the Trophee Hassan II in Morocco from April 25-29, the third-placed player earns automatic entry into the new Jordan Mixed Open at Ayla G.C. from April 4-6 while the fourth and fifth players will be headed to the Asian Tour’s Indonesian Masters from July 4-7.

Increased prize funds for every event, on-going Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) status, perfect weather and the prime conditioning of courses on the schedule has ensured there has been no drop-off in interest from budding touring pros despite the season-long hiatus.

So much so, an oversubscribed entry list for Q-School has prompted organisers to arrange two separate qualifiers at Ayla immediately proceeding the 2019 season bow at the same club – from Jan. 29-Feb. 1 (category A) and Feb. 2-5 (category B) – to accommodate the overflowing, global entry list.

After Q-School, the tour will bounce around the region for five events in a month – at Ayla G.C. (Feb. 9-11), Al Zorah G.C. in Ajman (Feb. 19-21), Dubai (course TBC; Feb. 26-28), Sahara Kuwait Resort (March 3-7) and Dubai (course TBC; March 12-14).

Getty Images
Henric Sturehed won the last MENA Tour event, the tour championship at Al Zorah, in October 2017. The Swede and since gone on to contend on the European Tour.

The minimum prize fund on offer each week will be $75,000, an increase of 50 per cent from previous $50,000, with at least three tournaments to boast $100,000 purses.

“We have listened to our members on various issues and used this hiatus of one year to ensure that we not only have a strong, financially viable Tour with streamlined operation and logistics, but also one that makes it easier for our members to participate and excel,” said new MENA Tour general manager Robbie Williams.

“The Qualifying School at Ayla Golf Club is our first step in a new journey, one which is going to be very exciting for the players and the industry in the region. The response so far has been fantastic. Even before we announced any dates, we have had over 600 registered interests by golfers from across the globe about our plans for 2019 and beyond.”

The MENA Tour’s new 2019 logo.

Established in 2011 by the Sheikh Maktoum Golf Foundation, the MENA Tour is one of 20 global Tours recognised by the OWGR. It global recognition makes it a genuine pathway for players in the Middle East, North Africa and beyond to events like the Olympic Games and other major championships.

Rayhan Thomas, who became a poster-boy for the MENA Tour when he won the 2017 Dubai Creek Open and last weekend secured his second professional title as an amateur, has committed to playing much of the spring schedule before taking up a scholarship at Rickie Fowler’s alma mater, Oklahoma State University.

For more information on Q-School, the ‘2019 Omega Dubai Desert Classic Shootout’ and new-look spring schedule, visit menatour.golf

The post Dubai Hills-Desert Classic prelude to new-look MENA Tour schedule; another European Tour opportunity for UAE PGA brethren  appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The MENA Tour champion fired a fine 68 in his opening round but given Thursday’s red-hot scoring, he figured four under was the least he had do to have a crack at the halfway cut and with it keep alive the long shot of a return to the European Tour full-time.

Elson has three confirmed starts – he’s playing Malaysia next week and Morocco in April courtesy of topping the developmental tour’s order of merit – and will need to excel in all three to have even a remote sniff at a 2018 card (save for qualifying via Q-School at the end of the season).

As the first round scorning showed, that’s no cinch. And for that, Elson reckons Tiger has a lot to answer for, in a very positive way.

“Obviously everyone that’s playing here wants to do it on a regular basis, not just two or three times a year. But it’s hard going, I mean the standard in the last five or six years has just gone through the roof,” said Elson.

“I think it’s the Tiger Woods effect really. I think the kids that he inspired to start the game are now 25 years of age and they’re pros, and they’re, you know, flying it 300 yards through the air. I mean you look at the scores, never used to shoot scores like that around this sort of golf course, but you know that’s the standard these days and that’s what you have to do.

“You see Rory just flicks it round, seven under like he’s in his sleep, seemingly. I know he puts a lot of hard work in to it but he’s that good. He drives it that well, he’ll probably shoot that score every day if the weather stays the same.”

Elson was pretty chuffed with his own driving Thursday in a bogey-free loop of the Majlis that left him in a share of 26th place overnight. Still, he knows he has work to do to make his second Desert Classic weekend; he finished T-63 in his maiden pro event here in 2003 but missed the cut a year later when Tiger contended.

“Yeah, no complaints with that. I’ve not had a card in my hand since King Hamad Trophy in November so no matter how much you practise, you don’t really feel that prepared unless you’ve played a couple of tournaments leading up to it. Sort of thrown in at the deep end to a certain extent.

“I just drove it quite nicely which I think that’s the most important club in the bag really, its very much a long game course. If you’re knocking it in the fairways you’ve not got a huge amount left to do.”

Elson was the best of the four MENA Tour players Thursday though amateur Todd Clements followed closely with a 69. Yas Links attached Englishman Luke Joy also dipped into the red with a 71 while Indian 18-year-old Rayhan Thomas has the most work to do to make the weekend after a 73.

“It’s obviously a great incentive when you’re playing on the MENA Tour to be able to peg it up in these sort of events and test yourself against the best.”

So far, so good, Tiger effect and all.

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The 18-year-old Dubai-based Indian amateur announced himself to the wider golfing world when he made his first European Tour cut with the help of an eye-catching opening round 68 at the $3 million event last year.

Thomas’ return to his home Emirates Golf Club has been sealed with a special sponsors’ invite and he’ll be joined on the Majlis from Jan. 25-28 by MENA Tour qualifiers Jamie Elson, Henric Sturehed, Luke Joy and Todd Clements, the latter also an amateur.

“I can’t wait to get started,” said the world amateur No. 20 who finished T-60 last year and went on to equal the world record of nine consecutive birdies in an official World Golf Ranking event at the 2017 Dubai Creek Open.

“I am feeling confident about my game, just working on my wedges and putter as short game will be crucial to going to low.”

Thomas won the Omega Watches Emirates Amateur Open last week by going low, closing with a 69 to fight back from six shots adrift before emerging from a three-way playoff with a birdie on the second hole of overtime.

It was a timely boost for the Junior Presidents Cupper who has verbally committed to play collegiate golf in the U.S. for Oklahoma State University from 2019.

Related: Rayhan Thomas is a Cowboy and Rickie Fowler is delighted

“The [Majlis] is like my home course. Having played there numerous times, I know it like the back of my hand. I see no reason why I shouldn’t do well there. It was nice making the cut last year, but just didn’t play that well on the front nines.”

Joining Thomas in showcasing the MENA Tour will be the top three Order of Merit professionals – Elson, Sturehed and Joy – and the leading amateur Todd Clements.

It will be a first Desert Classic start for Clements and Sturehed, who earned a 2018 European Tour card via Q-School. Like Joy and Thomas, Elson has played the “Middle East’s Major” before but is taking a laid back approach to his late career resurgence.

“I want to take a really positive, relaxed attitude into the tournament. Hoping to play some good golf and see where that leaves me,” said Elson, who won the Challenge Tour’s Finnish Open in 2003 shortly after turning professional. “I’m not putting any extra pressure on myself.”

Related: Els hopes Desert Classic return will trigger change of fortune

Daily tickets, priced at AED 175, are available online at omegadubaidesertclassic.com 

Season passes, which provide access to Emirates G.C. all week, are available for AED 500. Under 16s gain free entry with a adult carrying a valid ticket for the day.Season passes, which provide access to Emirates G.C. all week, is available for AED 500. Under 16s gain free entry with a adult carrying a valid ticket for the day.

The post Thomas trending nicely for Desert Classic return appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Henric Sturehed has been knocking on victory’s door for weeks and when he finally burst through Thursday, the view had exciting European, Asian and Sunshine Tour views.

The 27-year-old Swede waltz to a nine-stroke victory in the MENA Tour Championship at Al Zorah with a closing 69 to collect the circuit’s flagship title and the season’s richest cheque courtesy of an impressive -21 total.

The $18,000 took his season’s earnings to exactly two greenbacks over $30,000 and saw Sturehed leap-frog five places up to second in the order-of-merit behind champion Jamie Elson.

He’d started the working week almost certain of a place in the final stage of Sunshine Tour Q-School in South African and ended it with much more than a honking great pay cheque.

As well as a full card on the South African tour, Sturehed is now contemplating starts in January’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic and a second European Tour event, next September’s KLM Open at the Dutch. He also has a full Asian Development Tour card for 2018 but mightn’t need it – there’s also a free pass to the final stage of Asian Tour Q-School to consider.

“I’m absolutely delighted with my first win on the MENA Tour,” said Sturehed who became the the fourth Swede to win a MENA Tour event after Per Barth, Christofer Blomstrand and Fredrik From.

“I felt really comfortable out there, like I was in control of my game. It was my first season on the MENA Tour and I really enjoyed the whole experience. There are many good players out there and it was fun competing with them. I have made many new good friends and hope to return next year.”

Jake Shepherd, a two-time winner on the tour, went bogey-free in a closing six-under 66 to finish second at Al Zorah on -12, two clear of fellow Englishman Andrew Marshall and Adam Sagar.

Elson returned a level-par 72 to join fellow Englishmen Joe Heraty and Luke Joy in a three-way tie for fifth on -9, 279 , good enough for him to seal the prestigious Order of Merit title ahead of Sturehed.

As well as season earnings of $32,695, Elson becomes the first MENA Tour player to win a PGA Tour start at the DEAN & DELUCA Invitational at Colonial C.C. in May after also teeing it up in the Desert Classic and the European Tour’s Trophee Hassan II in Morocco in April. The 36-year-old Englishman also has all the Sunshine, and full and developmental Asian Tour privileges as Sturehed to ponder.

In the final wash-up in Ajman, you had to feel for Luke Joy whose frustrating season – hampered by a bout of malaria contracted during the MENA Tour’s South African swing – ended in more disappointment.

By the equivalent of a measly $121, he dropped to third in the OOM which denies the Yas Links-attached Englishman and return to the KLM Open. Here’s hoping he makes hay at the Desert Classic after being DQ’d for innocently signing an incorrect score card last January. He also has full Sunshine Tour status for 2018 although the illness in Pretoria may make a Asian Development Tour pass more appealing.

Todd Clements, meanwhile, signed for a 68 to win the amateur division on -5 283 . It was the English Amateur Champion’s sixth successive title and saw him crowned runaway amateur OOM champion from Sam Hobday.

Final MENA Tour Championship scores 

Final Pro OOM standings

Final Amateur OOM standings

The post Sturehed waltzes MENA Tour Championship as Elson eyes European Tour return and prized PGA Tour invite appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The 27-year-old Swede started the penultimate round of the Pro-Am circuit’s 15-event season five ahead courtesy of a course record 63 on Tuesday and extended the buffer with a third round 67 at Al Zorah G.C.

Sturehed is -18 through 54-holes with Andrew Marshall (-11) seven back after a 69 and English compatriot Jamie Elson (-9) nine adrift following a 70. More importantly, Elson retains pole-position for the overall title with his closest rival Luke Joy -5 after a 72 and Swede Fredrik From, third in the order of merit rankings heading into the week, -7 following a 70.

Former major champions Michael Campbell and Darren Clarkem, the latter the MENA Tour’s patron, visited Al Zorah Wednesday and will have been mightly impressed by Sturehed scoring. Playing partner Marshall certainly is.

“He is a superb talent,” Marshall said of Sturehed who notched up six of his seven birdies (against two bogeys) Wednesday on the front nine to effectively slam the door on his rivals. “I’m very impressed with his game. He is strong off the tee and accurate with his irons. He has great potential and I absolutely believe he will go far,”

Marshall signed for a third round 69.

Sturehed will understandably stick to a tried method in the final round.

“My game plan is to just play my game and try and make as many birdies possible, and the rest will take care of itself,”

Taylor Carter birdied two of his final three holes as he shot a two-under 70 to stay atop in the amateur division on four-under, two strokes clear of fellow Englishman Sam Hobday with Todd Clements lurking a further back on one-under.

Full scores here 

The post Sturehed strolling with just 18 holes of the 2017 MENA Tour season to play appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Two-back overnight, Sturehed rattled off eight birdies and a chip-in eagle to move to -13 at the season-decider in Ajman and open up a healthy five stroke lead over Englishman Andrew Marshall (66).

The season-long title race is suddenly a lot more spicy after Joy signed for a 69 to move from a share of 9th overnight into a share of 5th with Slovenia’s Tim Gornik and Swede Fredrik From, the latter an outside chance at the order-of-merit (OOM) title.

Joy is now just two shots behind Jamie Elson after the overnight leader and OOM pole-sitter carded a one-under 71 to fall into a share of third at -7 with Canadian Lindsay Renolds.

Related: Who needs to do what to win the MENA Tour

With 36-holes remaining, the equation is simple for Joy. If he goes on to win, the MENA Tour title, three European Tour starts, an invite to the PGA Tour’s Dean & Deluca Invitational, a Sunshine Tour card and a place in final qualifying for the Asian Tour is his. If Joy finishes second or third, Elson would need to finish no better than 4th or 6th respectively while Joy would still need a top three finish if Elson slips outside the top 10.

Sturehed backed up his opening 68 with a nine-under second round that included a chip-in eagle three on the 4th after his six-iron from 218 yards finished just off the green, a solitary bogey at the 8th before three successive birdies to finish.

“Conditions were a bit tougher today because of cross winds, but I had a good, solid day,” said the 27-year-old Swede.

“You never know tomorrow holds as there are many good players in the field and anything can happen. I need to stick to my game plan and keep the feel-good vibes going.”

Defending champion Tyler Hogarty, (South Africa) tied for second overnight, fell into a tie for 17th after returning a 77 while England’s Jake Shepherd kept himself in the frame for a strong finish, taking a share of 8th after posting a 69.

The English duo of Zane Scotland and Lee Corfield, who between them share 14 MENA Tour titles, are T-22 on +1 while Craig Hinton, the winner of the 2016 Order of Merit title, occupied tT-40 on +6, 150.

Taylor Carter returned a 69 to join fellow Englishman Sam Hobday at the top of the amateur division on -2 as overnight joint leader Todd Clements slipped to +1 after a 76.

Click here for full MENA Tour Championship scores

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Frustrated with his one-over-par finish for a share of 34th place at the Saraha Kuwait Golf Championship last week, the 36-year-old Englishman knuckled down on the range over the weekend and was rewarded with a pace-setting six-under 66 at the MENA Tour Championship.

Elson leads by one from defending champion Tyler Hogarty (South Africa) but more importantly opened up a four shot buffer over his nearest rival for the OOM title, compatriot Luke Joy, on a perfect day for scoring at Al Zorah G.C.

The overall title will be Elson’s if he wins this week, finishes in the top three providing Joy doesn’t win or if Joy finishes outside the top 5.

Related: Who needs to do what to win the MENA Tour title

Joy was T-9 overnight but with 54-holes to play, this is far from over.

“I had a bad week in Kuwait that probably helped me focus better. My preparations for this week were certainly much better,” Elon said afterwards. “I hope I can keep the momentum going all the way through.”

Elson opened with three birdies in his first six holes and then made amends for a bogey on the 7th with a bounce-back gain on the 8th before rattling off three homeward birdies.

“I felt in complete control of my game which was good. Missed a couple of putts here and there, but overall played good golf.

“If you’re playing well, this course can offer you plenty of scoring opportunities. I made just one bogey which shows I was pretty accurate with my game out there.”

Tyler Hogarty

Hogarty, a shot clear of Sweden’s Henric Sturehed who opened up with a 68, equally pleased with his opening round.

“I began with a birdie and finished with a birdie, which was quite pleasing. Everything about the about the course, from fairways to greens, is just perfect,” said Hogarty.

Todd Clements cruised to his familiar place at the top of the amateur leaderboard ilong with fellow Englishman Sam Hobday after a 67 that included five birdies and three bogeys. England’s Taylor Carter was a further four shots back, one clear of India’s Arkesh Bhatia on a day when 21 players broke par.

The post Advantage Elson after Englishman’s perfect start to the MENA Tour Championship appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Elson had a 10,033 point lead over Joy heading into the penultimate event of the 15-tournament campaign but collected just $394 (and thus points) for a share of 34th place at the Sahara Kuwait Golf Championship, a paltry return for three days hard work.

Joy, meanwhile, banked 6000 greenbacks and as many points for his solo-second finish behind Scot Robert MacIntyre at Saraha Golf & Country Club in Kuwait City. It all means Joy is just 4427 points adrift of Elson heading to Ajman where the $100,000 purse doubles the amount of points normally available.

Victory at Al Zorah would give either Elson or Joy the money title, regardless of where the other finishes. Elson will also get the chequered flag with a top three finish providing Joy places no better than second.

Destiny is, therefore, in Elson’s hands but Joy, fresh from back-to-back runner-up finishes (he lost to Elson in a playoff for the inaugural AYLA Championship in Jordan) sniffs a chance.

“Even though I didn’t get the win [in Kuwait] it was great to be in contention again for the second consecutive week and put some more money on the OOM [order-of-merit] board going into next week’s Tour championship in Ajman,” Joy said. “I’m very happy with how the game is holding up and very much looking forward to getting stuck in next week and see if we can build on the past two weeks.”

Swede Fredrik From and Englishman Andrew Marshall are also still in the fight for the money title and the potentially career-altering opportunities including three European Tour starts, an invite to the PGA Tour’s Dean and Deluca Invitational, a Sunshine Tour card and a place in the final stage of Asian Tour Q-School.

But at 12,084 adrift points adrift, From would need to win at Al Zorah and hope Elson can place no better than 5th and Joy no better than 3rd. Marshall, 14,772 points back, would also need victory and for Joy to finish no better than 4th and Elson no better than 7th.

Here’s the permutations for the top 5 in the order-of-merit race leading into the 72-hole Tour Championship starting Monday:

1. Jamie Elson (England) – Current points: 32,847

– Will win overall title with victory at the Tour Championship
– Wins title with a top three providing Joy finishes no better than 2nd
– If Joy finishes outside the top five, Elson wins title regardless of his finishing position

[divider] [/divider]

2. Luke Joy (England) – Current points 28,420

– Will win overall title with victory at the Tour Championship
– If Joy finishes second, Elson would need to finish no better than 4th
– A third place finish for Joy would mean Elson would have to finish no better than 6th
– If Elson finishes outside top 10, Joy would still need a top three placing to be crowned MENA Tour champion.

[divider] [/divider]

3. MG Keyser (South Africa) – Current points 18,774

– Despite winning back-to-back titles, is not eligible for Tour championship as has only played three events this year. Only the leading 50 professionals and top 10 amateurs who have played at least seven events are eligible.

[divider] [/divider]

4. Fredrik From (Sweden) – Current points 22, 763

Fredrik Form

– To win title would need victory and Elson to finish no better than 6th and Joy no better than 3rd.

[divider] [/divider]

5. Andrew Marshall (England) – Current points 18, 075

– To win title would need victory and Elson to finish no better than 7th and Joy no better than 4th.

[divider] [/divider]

And here’s what’s on the line after the final calculations are done at Al Zorah:

1st
Invites to:
Dean & Deluca Invitational (PGA Tour)
Omega Dubai Desert Classic, Maybank Championship, Hassan II Trophee (European Tour)
Full 2018 card for Sunshine Tour*
Full 2018 card for Asian Development Tour
Asian Tour – Final stage of Q-School

2nd
Invites to:
Omega Dubai Desert Classic, KLM Open (European Tour)
Full 2018 card for Sunshine Tour*
Full 2018 card for Asian Development Tour
Asian Tour – Final stage of Q-School

3rd
Omega Dubai Desert Classic (European Tour)
Full 2018 card for Sunshine Tour*
Full 2018 card for Asian Development Tour
Asian Tour – Final stage of Q-School

4th and 5th
Full 2018 card for Sunshine Tour*

6th to 15th
Sunshine Tour – Final stage of Q-School

Top MENA National
Invite to:
Omega Dubai Desert Classic

Top 60
Mena Tour exemption for 2018

*Pre-qualifying required for Sunshine Tour/European Tour co-sanctioned tournaments.

The post Who needs to do what to win the MENA Tour title? appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The 21-year-old Walker Cup representative rallied from a shot back overnight with seven birdies in a closing 65 to capture the Sahara Kuwait Golf Championship on Wednesday in just his second start as a professional.

MacIntyre (65-66-65) finished -14 at Sahara Golf and Country Club to edge Luke Joy (64-67-67) by two shots and become the 13th first-time winner on the developmental Pro-Am circuit this year – an astonishing number given we are 14 events into a 15 tournament schedule and one of the first timers, South African MG Keyser, went on to win back-to-back titles at The Creek and The Els Club Dubai.

It was the Joy’s second runner-up finish in as many events and has put the Englishman squarely back in the frame for the overall Order-of-Merit title heading into next week’s MENA Tour Championship at Al Zorah G.C. in Ajman.

Related: Who needs to do what to win the MENA Tour money title?

“Absolutely delighted with my efforts, a memorable week for me, indeed,” said MacIntyre who had a win, loss and a half for Great Britian and Ireland in a 19-7 loss to the U.S. at last month’s Walker Club in Los Angeles.

“It was fun playing on the MENA Tour. The competition is great and so is the atmosphere and I look forward to playing more events next season.”

MacIntyre is flanked by Yousef Abdulaziz Al Qatami and Wael Abdulrahman Al Welayti, both members of the Sahara Kuwait’s golf advisory committee, at the prize giving.

The Oban product, the first left-hander in living memory to win the Scottish Amateur in 2015 and a runner-up in The (British) Amateur the following year, gave a hint of his obvious talent at the AYLA Golf Championship in Jordan a fortnight ago, recovering from an opening 78 in his very first round as a pro with a course-record 64 to finish third. He’s a combined 25 under par for his last five rounds.

“I played golf the way as I used to as an amateur and never let the pressure of turning pro affect my game,” said MacIntyre, the fourth Scotsman after Paul Doherty, Clarke Lutton and David Law to win a MENA Tour event. “It [Sahara GCC] is a nice golf course with narrow fairways. You needed to be accurate off the tee and I drove the ball well all week, creating some good scoring opportunities. I holed putts when I needed to and that was the key to my success.”

Delighted with my start to the new job ? huge thanks to @theMENATour for the 2 invites will never forget where it all started. #higlander pic.twitter.com/9bgZWZ0ie8

— Robertmacintyre (@robert1lefty) October 18, 2017

Meanwhile, England’s Todd Clements comfortably kept up his white-hot form to win the amateur division for the fifth time in a row on five-under 205, two shots ahead of Switzerland’s Dubai-based Michael Harradine. It’s a stunning run that has virtually assured the reigning English Amateur Champion of the amateur OOM title.

The leading 50 professionals and top 10 amateurs on the OOM earn starts in the 72-hole Tour Championship starting Monday. MacIntyre is not eligible as he falls five events short of the mandatory seven required to tee it up in Ajman.

Sahara Kuwait Golf Championship Amateur Champion – @ClementsTodd pic.twitter.com/XLcOM7uDEZ

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) October 18, 2017

The post Robert MacIntyre vows to return to MENA Tour after dream Kuwait win appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The 27-year-old had four birdies going out and three more coming home in a flawless seven-under 63 to edge the English duo of Stuart Archibald and Luke Joy, Scot Daniel Hendry and South African Luke Trocado on the opening day of the MENA Tour’s penultimate event of 2017.

Italian Philip Geerts and Scot Robert MacIntyre moved into a two-way tie for sixth on five-under 65, one ahead of a nine-man group that included two-time MENA Tour winner Andrew Marshall and English amateur champion Todd Clements.

Order of merit leader Jamie Elson signed for a level par 71 to be T-28, two shots Swede Fredrik From who is third in the points race behind as second-placed Joy stole an early march on his rivals.

Fresh from a T-3 finish at last week’s Jordan’s AYLA Golf Championship, Sturehed rode a hot driver in Kuwait City to fall just a shot shy of the course record, jointly held by defending champion Joe Heraty and Chile’s Matias Calderon.

Related: Swede Sturehed fires course record, finds Joy atop the Ayla Golf Championship leaderboard

“I struck the ball very well off the tee and holed some good putts when I needed to and that was the key to going low today,” said Sturehed.

“The course is playing nice and there are plenty of scoring opportunities out there if you can hit the fairways in regulation.”

Archibald finished sixth in Kuwait last year after taking a two-shot lead into the final round and rekindled those found memories by also going bogey-free. “I played some lovely golf. Missed just one green which means I had 17 chances to pick up a shot,” said the 33-year-old Englishman.

“I struggled a bit to get the pace of the greens on the front nine as I had arrived just in time for my tee time, but found the touch as the round wore one. Didn’t miss any green coming home.” s

who finished in a tie for sixth last year after heading into the final round with a two-shot lead.

Perennial contender Joy produced one of the highlights of the day, hitting a 3-iron from 228 yards to within 15 feet on the 9th before duly holing the putt for an eagle-3 en-route to a tidy 64.

“I hit the ball clean throughout the day and putted solidly. The course is nice. Had some good fun out there,” said the Englishman, a two-timer winner on the MENA Tour.

Trocado also had a good day at work, reeling off six birdies, two eagles and three bogeys to put himself firmly in the mix.

England’s Todd Clements continued his purple patch of form with an opening with a 66 to lead the amateur division by a stroke from Switzerland’s Michael Harradine. Saudi Arabia’s Othman Almulla settled for a 75.

Elsewhere, defending champion Heraty slipped into a tie for 46th after carding a 72 while Morocco’s Ahmed Marjan posted a bogey-free 69 as UAE’s Ahmed Al Musharrekh, three over through 10th, recovered well to sign for a 71.

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