Scott Henry surges to one-shot lead at the RAK Open
Golfer keeps it in the family with brother-in-law on his bag
Ras Al Khaimah: Scotland’s Scott Henry is enjoying some serious family time during the Ras Al Khaimah Open and has climbed to the top of the leaderboard in the process after following his opening-round 65 with a six-under-par 66 on Tuesday at Tower Links Golf Club.
The 32-year-old from Clydebank has his brother-in-law Christopher Walker on his bag in the Mena Tour event and his idea of having fun was to add seven birdies and an eagle first-round score and take a one-shot lead at 13-under par over young Swede Niclas Weiland (67) and overnight leader Marco Iten (68) of Switzerland.
England’s Kyson Lloyd (65) was in solo fourth place at 11-under, while Australia’s Daniel Gaunt (68), trying to chase South Africa’s MG Keyser in the Journey To Jordan, moved to tied fifth place at nine-under alongside Sweden’s Gabriel Axell (68).
Henry, winner of the 2012 Kazakhstan Open on the European Challenge Tour, showed his class with a superb display from tee to green, especially on the front nine, that included an eagle on the seventh.
“I was five-under par through seven holes and I think it was the best I could have ever played tee-to-green. The back nine was a bit up and down and I played some scrappy shots coming in. But a birdie on the last was a good way to finish and I am looking forward to the challenge tomorrow,” he said. “I have my brother-in-law on my bag this week and we had great fun on the course. He caddies for my wife (Kylie) on the Ladies European Tour, so he knows his business and he helped me enjoy my round.
“It doesn’t matter whether I am in the lead because I will have to go and play some aggressive golf and shoot some low number tomorrow. There are a lot of birdies on this golf course, so the only way I can protect my lead is if I make a few myself and stay ahead.”
LEADING SCORES (after Round Two of Ras Al Khaimah Open)
131 Scott Henry (SCO) 65-66
132 Niclas Weiland (SWE) 65-67, Marco Iten (SUI) 64-68,
133 Kyson Lloyd (ENG) 68-65,
135 Daniel Gaunt (AUS) 67-68, Gabriel Axell (SWE) 67-68,
136 Joshua Grenville-Wood (ENG) 65-71,
137 Robin Petersson (SWE) 70-67, Robbie Busher (ENG) 70-67, Craig Ross (SCO) 69-68, Harry Ellis (ENG) 69-68
138 Ahmed Baig (PAK) 72-66, Gustaf Kocken (SWE) 69-69