Moroccan amateur matches the pros in Al Ain

Al Ain: Young Moroccan amateur Ahmad Marjan surprised a rich field when he shot a sizzling six-under 65 to take joint control in the opening round of the Mena Golf Tour’s season-ending Tour Championship at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club on Monday.

Marjan, who reeled off four birdies in a row from the fifth and added two more on the back nine in his bogey-free round, matched the day’s best score carded by seasoned professionals Faycal Serghini (Morocco) and Lee Corfield (England) to take a good two-shot lead.

On a day when four amateurs broke par, England’s James Allan and Switzerland’s Michael Harradine also made their presence felt, taking a share of the fourth on a four-under 67 along with the English trio of Ian Keenan, Matthew Turner and Yasin Ali.

Another amateur, James Yeomans of England, joined England’s Christopher Cannon and Dale Marmion and Switzerland’s Nicholas Mullhaupt in tie for the ninth on a three-under 68, raising the prospects of a thrilling finish.

It was Marjan, the winner of the 2011 Order of Merit title for amateurs, who held sway with a solid round on a day when as many as 22 players broke par. “I hit my approach shots close to the pin and that created plenty of birdie opportunities,” said the 21-year-old from Rabat. “I have been playing really well on this tour, but it was poor putting that prevented me from posting a good number.

Marjan’s fellow countryman Serghini was equally delighted with his round. “Except for one silly bogey, I think I played really well. I was pretty straight off the tee and found a good rhythm on the greens,” said Serghini, who played the back nine at four under.