Today (Thursday) I shot an opening round of 69 in the 72 hole Abu Dhabi Challenge at Abu Dhabi Golf Club to lie in tied 12th place, five back of the leader.
I started on tee 10 and immediately dropped a shot on the par four 11th, measuring 460 yards with a field average of 4.34 – which, according to the Challenge Tour stats on-line was the toughest hole of the day for the 156 player field, but I responded nicely with four birdies on my front nine to be out in 33, three under par.
Four pars followed on my back nine, holes 1 - 9 on the National Course.
A double bogey on hole five derailed my progress.
Three under round
I hit back with a birdie three on the sixth and another on the par 3 seventh, and finished par – par on eight and nine for my three under round.
With all my work with junior and grass roots golf, I am always interested in seeing players from the home country as I travel the world. I have my Stephen Gallacher Foundation back home in Scotland which continues to go from strength to strength. I set it up in 2012 with the aim of giving all children the opportunity to learn golf in a fun environment. Hats off to UAE National champion Ahmad Skaik, who shot a one under par round. 60 players today broke par.
As I thought the standard of player in this week’s Challenge Tour field and the quality of golf is more than good.
It’s getting tougher on all the Tours these days, we’re all getting a bit older and young guys are coming through so it’s a really good field both this week, next week at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club and every week.
Leading Scot
I am the leading Scot in the field, not bad for a 48 year-old when there are eight from ‘North of the border’ playing this week.
Tomorrow (Friday), I have a morning tee time at 8.05 am in Match 9 off tee 1.
The forecast is for another warm one with sunny skies – no surprises there. Hopefully, I can take advantage of the cooler morning temperatures.
Wish me luck and speak to you all after tomorrow’s second round. Let’s see where the 36-hole cut will fall?
Stephen Gallacher - is a 48 year-old Scot, has won four times on the DP World Tour, including both the 2013 and 2014 Dubai Desert Classic
