Abu Dhabi: Mena Tour leader Zane Scotland returns to familiar territory in Saadiyat Beach Golf Club for the Abu Dhabi Citizen Open on Monday, where last year he set the course record on his way to victory.
Having already lifted the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club Open last Wednesday with an eight-under-par 205 (65-70-70), the 30-year-old Englishman takes form and confidence into round two of the six-stage $325,000 Mena Tour development series, safe in the knowledge that Saadiyat is where he can extend his lead.
This is, after all, where he secured his only win of last year’s campaign - he played three of four events and finished fifth in the inaugural order of merit standings - after rounds of 69, 72 and, what is still the official course record, 67.
“It feels good coming back to a venue where you have enjoyed some success,” said Scotland, who tees off on Monday at 10.08am. “This is a new tournament and a new start. Let’s see how things unfold.”
“I’ll have a title to defend now,” added Scotland, who will have second and third from last week, Stephen Dodd and Mohammad Munir, hot on his heels. “For a mid- to good-level amateur or professional you spend so much of your golfing life struggling, so it’s nice to have a target on your back, it’s a good feeling.”
Director of club operations at Saadiyat, Paul Booth, has warned of quicker greens and shifting desert winds ahead of the next three days. Booth said: “The course is set up nicely at 7,300 yards from gold tees and the greens will be running a bit fast, about 10.5 to 11 on the stimpmeter.
“The players will have to hit their approach shots in the right place on the undulating greens if they aim to do well. You never know what will happen in golf, but the course will provide a fair all-round test for the players.
“If the desert winds get up, which happens so often, they could affect the scoring.”
Booth added: “We look forward to seeing an absorbing battle in the next three days since the field looks pretty strong.”
The Abu Dhabi Golf Citizen has attracted a full field of 120 players compared to last year’s 72, the rise in number amply reflecting on the tour’s and the event’s popularity. Of the 120 players, 26 are amateurs which include Morocco’s Ahmad Marjan, the winner of last year’s Order of Merit title, and Max Williams, who won the amateur division of last week’s Dubai Creek Open.
