Dubai: Young Rayhan Thomas shot a career-best five-under 66 to seize the early initiative, leaving many better-known names trailing in his wake after the opening round of the Mena Golf Tour’s Dubai Creek Open on Monday.
Playing on his home course, the 15-year-old Dubai-based amateur from India reeled off one eagle and four birdies against a lone bogey to take a one-shot lead over his playing partner Jake Shepherd of England and Cyril Suk of the Czech Republic.
Lurking two shots off the pace were the English duo of Luke Joy and Joshua White and Austrian Florian Praegant, who will fancy their chances of hitting the front as the tournament wears on.
But, it was Thomas who dominated the proceedings with a solid all-round performance that had self-belief written all over it, making him the youngest golfer ever to lead a MENA Golf Tour tournament after the first round. “I am really delighted with my day’s work and couldn’t have asked for a better start to the tournament,” said Thomas, who will be homeschooled later this year to devote more time on golf.
“Certainly, the local knowledge came in handy as the key to playing good golf on this course is to avoid silly mistakes, which I did,” said Thomas, who is currently ranked number one amateur in the UAE, having won virtually every championship the domestic circuit has to offer.
“What really provided the spark to my round was the eagle on the par-5, fourth when I smashed my 3-wood to within 15 feet and holed the ensuing putt,” said Thomas who made the turn at four-under.
England’s Joy opened his title defence with a 68, mixing seven birdies with two bogeys and a double bogey (on the par-4, seventh) to stay in the frame. “I played some solid golf and hope to keep the momentum rolling all the way through. I made some silly mistakes out there as I had trouble adjusting to the speed of the greens.
Playing his first competitive round since the 2013 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, England’s Miles Tunnicliff settled for a four-over 75, but sounded optimistic of bringing back his ‘A’ Game to the course.
Meanwhile, the Mena Golf Tour held a clinic for young enthusiasts at the Driving Range of Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, featuring instruction and exhibitions by leading professionals which included England’s Zane Scotland and Yasin Ali and Morocco’s Mustapha El Maouas.
