This time it was out of work European Challenge Tour player Marco Iten making waves, two back-nine eagles helping the Swiss pro come home in just 30 strokes in an opening round of eight-under 64 at Tower Links Golf Club.

The 29-year-old from Zurich, playing on a special exemption in an effort to gain some match sharpness ahead of the second stage of European Tour Qualifying School next week, leads the Ras Al Khaimah Open by Arena by a shot from Swede Niclas Weiland, Scot Scott Henry and Englishman Joshua Grenville-Wood.

Grenville-Wood continued a day of spectacular shot-making in the northern emirate, holing out from 139 yards on the par-4 15th for an eagle in his 65.

Daniel Gaunt, starting the final regular-season stop second behind MG Keyser in the season-long Journey To Jordan race, made an early move, opening with a five-under-par 67, three shots better than the South African leader who was T-19 overnight.

Josh Hill, who created worldwide headlines last week by becoming the youngest winner of an Official World Golf Ranking event, struggled on the greens and came home in 78 after missing more than half a dozen par putts from inside six-eight feet range. The leading amateur after a opening 69 was Hill’s playing partner and “Penultimate 4” leader Robin Tiger Williams who has made a handy start after his record romp at the Journey to Jordan #2 Championship late last month.

Iten started in bright fashion, hitting it to six feet on the first two par-4 holes. Another gain on the par-5 5th was erased by his only bogey of the day on the eighth and he made the turn at two-under.

On the back nine, Iten eagled the 13th hole when he smashed a three-wood downwind from 290 yards to 20 feet and on the 18th, where he converted a 15-footer. He also had birdies on the 10th and 15th.

“It was a good day. I got off to a fast start and managed to carry that momentum on to the back nine. I was able to hit both the par-5s in two and make my putts,” said Iten, who lost his card on the European Challenge Tour this year.

“It definitely is a great confidence booster ahead of the second stage of the Q School next week. I can do with a few tournament rounds ahead of that and was looking for a place to play and some of my friends told me how good the MENA Tour is. I am thankful for the opportunity and hopefully, we can take the momentum from this round to the next two days.”

After enjoying a superb start of 8-under par 64 and leading the RAK Open by Arena, Switzerland’s Marco Iten says it is a great confidence boost ahead of the 2nd stage of European Tour Q School, and that we can see more of him in 2020 season. pic.twitter.com/JIMNoxmI99

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) October 28, 2019

Switzerland’s Marco Iten showed no effects of coming from the cold climate of Zurich to the heat of Ras Al Khaimah!
Two eagles on the back nine helped him climb to the top of the leaderboard at 8-under par 64 on day one of the RAK Open by Arena. pic.twitter.com/EIeg1avktN

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) October 28, 2019

Henry was bogey-free in his 65, while Weiland made one bogey.

“It’s always easier when a guy in the group is making all the putts like Niclas did. We both played well and I think we fed off each other quite nicely,” said the affable Scotsman.

LEADING SCORES (after Round One of Ras Al Khaimah Open by Arena):

64 – Marco Iten (SUI)
65 – Niclas Weiland (SWE), Scott Hendry (SCO), Joshua Grenville-Wood (ENG)
67 – Daniel Gaunt (AUS), Benjamin David (ENG), Alessandro Tadini (ITA), Jake Ayers (ENG), Robbie Busher (ENG), Gabriel Axell (SWE)
68 – Erik Jonasson (SWE), Kyson Lloyd (ENG), Alex Belt (ENG), Matthias Weiderman
69 – Craig Ross (SCO), Robin ‘Tiger’ Williams (Am-ENG), Harry Ellis (ENG), Gustaf Kocken (SWE)

Playing in the second group out this morning in Round 1 of the RAK open by Arena, @NiclasWeiland and @ScottHenryGolf fed off each other and posted the marker at seven-under par 65. pic.twitter.com/mfqSN6NpJP

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) October 28, 2019

The post Swiss pro Iten flying high on two eagles at RAK Open appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Josh Hill can’t wait to let his golf clubs do the talking again.

The Dubai teen’s life has been a whirlwind of media appointments since his historic Al Ain Open triumph last Wednesday when he eclipsed Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa as the youngest winner of an Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) event. He finally returned to his natural habitat for a practice round at Tower Links yesterday ahead of the $75,000 Ras Al Khaimah Open by Arena and it was clearly a relief after the hectic week that was.

RELATED: Hill creates world history as MENA Tour’s fourth – and youngest – amateur champion

“It just feels great to be back on a golf course. It feels like I am back home,” said Hill on the eve of the MENA Tour’s final regular-season stop.

“The last few days have been pretty crazy. I have been asked for interviews quite a few times. But I guess you have got to do them, keep level-headed and keep playing golf. I just can’t wait to get back there tomorrow.

“I did not think much of it until BBC and Sky Sports started showing it and then I thought ‘Wow, it was a pretty big achievement’. It was all over social media, so it must have been good.”

Social media has been abuzz with Hill’s achievement, the latest virtual doff of the cap coming from Japan’s ‘Bashful Prince’ himself during the PGA Tour’s Zozo Championship in his homeland. Ishikawa previously held the record at 15 years and eight months before Hill fired a -17 total to win at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club aged 15 years, six months and 27 days.

RELATED: Sir Nick Faldo, Danny Willett lead tributes to new world record holder Hill

‘Oh wow! Congratulations!!’

Japan’s ‘Bashful Prince’ reacts to Josh Hill breaking his world record of the youngest player to win a @owgr_ltd event at Al Ain Open by Arena.

Video courtesy: @Swinging_Swamy from the Zozo Championship in Japan. pic.twitter.com/Yl2l7UyU3B

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) October 27, 2019

In a mouth-watering trio, Hill has been paired with the Journey To Jordan amateur Order of Merit leader Curtis Knipes and the another Englishman, Robin ‘Tiger’ Williams, who won the Journey To Jordan #2 a few weeks ago at Ayla Golf Club in Aqaba, Jordan.

Hill with countryman and fellow amateur MENA Tour winner Robin ‘Tiger’Williams. Photo: Joy Chakravarty/MENA Tour.

“I am really looking forward to this week. I have got a great group tomorrow in Robin and Curtis. What happened in Al Ain is now in the past. I am just looking forward to staying humble, playing some good golf and enjoying myself this week,” he added.

At the end of the Ras Al Khaimah Open by Arena, the ‘Penultimate Four’ incentive – a spot at the Panasonic India Open and the Thailand Open on the Asian Tour next month – will be decided. Amateur Williams leads the standings going into the week but it will be a close battle with South African professional MG Keyser, Australian journeyman Daniel Gaunt, Hill and Knipes all in the hunt.

The 54-hole tournament at Tower Links starts Monday, with the first tee time scheduled for 6.50am UAE time. The cut will be applied for the top 48 pros and ties after the second round.

‘PENULTIMATE FOUR’ STANDING (Top Five, after Al Ain Open by Arena)
1.            Robin ‘Tiger’ Williams (Am, ENG) 18,918
2.            MG Keyser (SA) 17,424
3.            Daniel Gaunt (AUS) 16,039
4.            Josh Hill (Am, ENG) 15,700                                         
5.            Curtis Knipes (Am, ENG) 15,250           

The post History-maker Hill focused on ‘staying humble’ ahead of Ras Al Khaimah Open appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.