BAHRAIN’S Sultan Abdulla took the overnight lead yesterday in the first Bahrain Amateur Open golf championship, taking place at Royal Golf Club (RGC) at Riffa Views.
Abdulla clinched the top of the leaderboard after playing a first round gross score of two-under-par 70 around RGC’s Montgomerie championship course.
His opening 18 holes included four birdies on the third, ninth, 12th and 13th holes; while he also had two bogeys on the first and eighth holes. The Bahraini international golfer had a 36 score over the front nine, before closing out strong with a score of 34 on the back.
Abdulla enjoyed a two-stroke lead over Saleh Ali Misbah, who finished with the first round on even par. Misbah’s solid opening day was marrged by a double bogey on hole six.
In third overnight, three shots behind the leader, was Hamad Mubarak Al Afnan, who had a one-over-par 73.
Three players were then tied fourth, including Ali Al Kowari, Andres Echeveste and Ronan Armstrong, who were each three shots over par (75); while another four players were tied seventh a further shot back (76) namely Mohamed Al Noaimi, Nasser Yaqoob, Saud Al Sharif and Clark Windross.
A total of 98 golfers teed off from yesterday’s play. Action continues with the final 18 holes today, after which the winners will be crowned.
The first group of players will be teeing off at 6.30am, while the final group including Abdulla, Misbah, Al Afnan and Echeveste will be starting play at 8.20am.