Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah Championship: Simon Dunn leads after round two

UAE resident Simon Dunn (Tower Links GC) shot a second round of 70, to take a three shot lead in the 54 hole 2023 Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah Championship at Al Hamra Golf Club, RAK, UAE.

Dunn, a former tour professional, following his first round of 71, was two behind overnight leader Rick Hessing (Ned). After a bogey on hole two, Dunn rolled in birdies on holes four and five to go to the turn in one under par 35.

A further birdie on hole 14 and eight pars saw him home in 35 with no bogeys and a second round two under par for a 36 hole total of 141.

First round leader Hessing, playing alongside Dunn, was out in an untidy 38 with two birdies, two bogeys and a double on hole four. A run of eight birdies on the back nine was followed by a bogey six on the home hole for a 37 back nine and he handed in a card of three over par 75.

Thom Hoetmer (Ned) shot the equal best score of the day, the golf course set up for day two at 7,100 yards, a four birdie two under par 70, to move him into tied third place.

Six over mark

Six players in the field beat the 150, six over mark. Leading the Net Division is Raghav Gulati (DCGYC) with two rounds of 73.

The gross winner of the tournament will receive an invite to a Challenge Tour event in the UAE later in the year, part of the DP World Tour. The event is the eighth of 17 of the 2022 – 2023 EGF Order of Merit and a qualifying event for the R&A’s World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) – Men’s Division.

All players acknowledged the excellent condition of the golf course as it is prepared for the forthcoming $2 million Ras Al Khaimah Championship to be held here at Al Hamra Golf Club, Thursday 2nd – Sunday 5th February, 2023, on the DP World Tour.

The third and final round tee times for tomorrow (Sunday) are in threeballs from 7 am to 8.44 am with the leaders out last, with Dunn, Hessing and Hoetmer in the last group.

Second Round Leaders (Par 72, 7,100 Yards).

S. Dunn (Tower Links) 71. 70. 141.

R. Hessing (Ned) 69. 75. 144.

T. Hoetmer (Ned) 76. 70. 146.

R. Gulati (DCGYC) 73. 73. 146.

L. Klein (Aut) 72. 74. 146.

J. Nash (Wales) 75. 73. 148.