GOLF – BAHRAIN’S Khalifa Almerisi finished tied-third yesterday just four shots from the top of the leaderboard after the first round of the 45th Arab Men’s Golf Championship, which got underway at Doha Golf Club in Qatar.
Almerisi is one of four players flying the kingdom’s flag in the 72-hole men’s competition, which features 52 golfers representing 14 Arab nations. The others are Khalifa Alkaabi, Ahmed Alzayed, and Ali Alkowari.
Almerisi carded a one-under-par 71 yesterday to finish level with Moroccans Hugo Trommetter and Mohamed Baouhamou after 18 holes. Almerisi fired in four birdies on the second, 10th, 13th, and 18th holes, but also had three bogeys.
He was four shots behind overnight leader Reda El Hali, also from Morocco, who finished day one five under at 67.
Jonathan Selvaraj from the UAE ranked second after playing a three-under score of 69 yesterday.
Alkaabi was Bahrain’s second-best player in the rankings in tied-13th. He shot a three-over-par 75 to share his position with three others. Alkaabi played three birdies but also had four bogeys and a costly double bogey on the sixth hole.
Alzayed was amongst six players tied-24th after the first day with a six-over 78 score. Alzayed struggled early with a bogey on the second and then a double bogey on the third, and had another bogey on hole five before a double bogey-bogey on holes 11 and 12. His lone birdie of the day was on the sixth.
Alkowari completed the kingdom’s golfers in tied-32nd with two of his competitors at eight-over 80. He had a steady front nine with just one bogey on the seventh hole, but after opening the back with a birdie, had two double bogeys and two bogeys heading back to the clubhouse.
In the teams’ ranking, Bahrain were fourth after round one with an eight-over-par 224 total.
Morocco had a comfortable lead in first place at seven-under 209, followed by the UAE in second at two-under 214. Qatar were third, right in front of Bahrain, at four-over-par 220.
Only the top three scores for each team are to be included in each day’s tally.
Action resumes with round two today and continues until Tuesday.
The men’s event is being held alongside the 17th Arab Ladies’ Golf Championship, taking place at the same venue.
Both tournaments feature a total of 73 golfers, with the ladies representing nine countries. The players are vying for individual and team titles.
The two championships are being organised and run by the Qatar Golf Association.
Heading Bahrain’s delegation in the Qatari capital is Bahrain Golf Association vice-president Duaij Khalifa.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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