Abu Dhabi: Craig Hinton seized the early initiative on the opening day at the Mena Golf Tour’s Abu Dhabi Golf Citizen Open as Welsh ace Stephen Dodd and Morocco’s Soufiane Rochdi were lurking four shots off the pace.
The Englishman, who turned professional last month, fired a four-under-par 68 to surge one stroke clear of Nicholas Mullhaupt (Switzerland) and Stuart Archibald (England) and two off Spain’s Antonio Arjona Bueno.
Hinton, who represented England in the Eisenhower Trophy last year, mixed five birdies, including four on the back nine with the lone bogey at par-four 16th to overshadow many seasoned professionals in the field.
Dodd, a three-time winner of the European Tour and the defending Mena Tour champion, played consistently on both nines to stay in contention along with Morocco’s Rochdi as pre-tournament favourite Zane Scotland slipped to a four-over par 76 after playing the first 11 holes at two-under.
Scotland’s David Law, who finished runner-up twice in a row this season, admitted to playing “poorly” after settling for a three-over 75 and so was the case with South Africa’s Tyler Hogarty, who signed for four-over 76. Morocco’s Yassine Touhami topped the amateur division with a creditable level-par 72, one ahead of young Rahyan Thomas.
Earlier, Khalfan Al Kaabi, a board member of the Emirates Golf Federation, lauded the Tour, saying it has provided the players, especially from the region, a perfect platform to hone their skills.
“Mohammad Juma Bu Amim [chairman of the Tour] is vastly experienced when it comes to promoting and organising international golf events. I am sure the Tour will continue to grow under his leadership. I wish him the very best,” he said at a media briefing to mark the start of the event.
