Ras Al Khaimah: Max Orrin and Pontus Widegren shot course record seven under rounds of 65 to share the lead after the opening round of the Ras Al Khaimah Golf Challenge — the penultimate leg of the 27-stage European Challenge Tour season — at Al Hamra Golf Club on Wednesday.
Both hold a one-shot lead over next placed Martin Wiegele, Scott Henry, Romain Langasque and Espen Kofstad.
The stake are high for everyone this week not least Sweden’s Widegren who is 61st on the Race to Oman and needs a good result to break the top 46 to qualify for next week’s season-ending NBO Golf Classic Grand Final.
“I’m trying to see it as a ‘nothing to lose’ situation,” said Widegren. “There’s pressure, but I really feel very loose this week — the goal is to qualify for the Grand Final, but I’m just trying to stay loose and keep playing well.
“I started off quite well last week in China, but I couldn’t really keep it going, I maybe tried a little too hard to stay up there. But I like the weather here and I’m playing some good golf.
“It’s been a very tough year, and I’ve struggled to put the scores together for a long time. That changed in Kazakhstan, and a top ten there is what got me into these tournaments at the end of the year to give myself a chance of keeping my card.
“I had a crazy start today, everything just went my way and went in. There’s a few good opportunities early on, and I gave myself a lot of chances, and if you take advantage of it you can get off to a fast start.
“I managed to make some really good putts on the other holes as well, and it just kept going. I’m enjoying my time here, it’s a lovely place and I like this kind of golf in the UAE.”
Orrin, a two-time Challenge Tour winner, is also targeting a good result this week as he looks to climb from 21st into the top 16 to guarantee a European Tour card next season.
“I’m very pleased,” said Orrin. “I played well last week (tied fourth in China), managed to put four good rounds together and finish strong, and I think Sunday gave me a lot of confidence so this week I’m just trying to do the same thing.
“I’m coming into form at the right time. There’s a lot of points up for grabs and this is the time of season where, if you haven’t been playing well, you can have a couple of good weeks and it’s job done.
“That’s the reality of it, and it’s lovely if you can find form, so hopefully I can just keep playing the way I’m playing — I quite like the heat and I’ve done well here in the Middle East in the past, so hopefully I can just keep enjoying it tomorrow and the rest of the week.”
