USA lead through 36 holes at Abu Dhabi Golf Club

Team USA lead at the halfway stage of the 2023 Eisenhower Trophy, thanks to the help of a barrage of birdies from the World Amateur Golf Ranking Number Three, Nick Dunlap.

Dunlap’s five under 67 included seven birdies which helped the American’s move one shot clear of Team France and the People’s Republic of China at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

“I just like the vibe out here,” said Dunlap, the 2023 U.S. Amateur champion. “It’s a little bit different so I’m just trying to embrace it. There are a couple holes that I like hitting 3-wood where a lot of people are hitting driver, so I’m trying to play to my strengths and play to what looks good to my eye and go from there.”

World Amateur Number Two

With the two best scores from each team counting per round, Dunlap’s team mate, World Amateur Number Two Gordon Sargent put together a two under 70 to place their team at a 16 under total.

USA Captain Mark Newell, commented “When you’re ranked high and you’ve had the wins and the honors that these guys have had, expectations will come with it. But I don’t think they feel any special pressure. I think they’re in a good frame of mind and ready to go out and have another great round tomorrow.”

A four under 68 for Hugo Le Geoff and a two under 70 from Bastien Amat were combined for team France in Thursday’s scoring. While a five under 67 from Zihang Qiu and four under 68 from Justin Bai to place the People’s Republic of China both at 15 under.

Leading the individual standings is Le Goff on nine under, ahead by one stroke over Czechia’s Filip Jakubcik, Italy’s Pietro Bovari, Zihang Qiu and Nick Dunlap.

The Emirates Golf Federation, in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Sports Council and their Destination Partner, the Department of Culture and Tourism, are host to the men’s Eisenhower Trophy, followed by the women’s Espirito Santo Trophy on October 25-28 both part of the 2023 World Amateur Team Championship (WATC) presented by Rolex.