Scott Hend leads after Round One of the International Series — Egypt

Scott Hend’s revival continued on Thursday after he shot a sublime eight-under par 62 to take the first round lead in the $1.5 million International Series Egypt.

The Australian, who has battled back from prostate cancer, looked like his old self on Thursday making nine birdies and one bogey at Madinaty Golf Club — in what is the Asian Tour’s first ever visit to Egypt.

Thailand’s Pawin Ingkhapradit and Seungtaek Lee from Korea shot equally impressive 63’s, while South African Jaco Ahlers and Canadian Richard T. Lee returned 64’s.

Biggest obstacle

Hend has fully recovered from cancer but says the biggest obstacle he faces now is the lack of confidence.

He said: “I am a 10-time winner on the Asian Tour, I am a 15-time winner around the world, I am an Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, I am second on the Asian Tour Career Money List, I have been playing golf since I was 14 years old, I know how to play, I have just got to keep telling myself that.”

The 49-year-old missed cut after cut in the early part of the year but has been playing better since then, most noticeably in last week’s International Series Morocco where he was tied for third going into the final round before shooting a 78 to finish equal 14th.

“It’s just a process, putting the foot in front of the other and trying to get back to where I was,” said Hend, whose last win on the Asian Tour came in the 2019 Maybank Championship.

“Mentally I have suffered a lot from what I have been through, so that’s where I have been really struggling confidence wise. I wasn’t 100 per cent, I tried to play, and I rode on what confidence I did have but I wasn’t 100 per cent so it was a Catch 22.”

Missed putts

He could easily have finished with a lower score today but missed three putts from inside four feet on the outward half and one from a similar length on the way back.

Pawin was bogey free, making three birdies on the front and four on the back.

“I played well from the tee today which is important on this course, and of course I holed a lot of putts,” said Pawin.

“I have been playing well this year, missing the cut for the first-time last week in Morocco, so today is just my form continuing.”

Chasing first victory

The Thai golfer has been playing on the Asian Tour and Asian Development Tour for the past decade and still chasing his first victory.

Ahlers, who started on 10, built his round on a fine four-under-par 30 back nine with five birdies and one bogey. He made another three birdies and one dropped shot on the second half.

He said: “I started off by holing a few putts, really got the ball rolling well. It’s a great course, I love Nicklaus courses, this isn’t one but it’s very similar.”

The South African is a 10-time winner on the Sunshine Tour in South Africa, remarkably five of those coming in play-offs including at his most recent victory there coming in April at the Stella Artois Players Championship.

American Sihwan Kim, currently second on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, eagled two par fives on the front nine and was one of nine players who came in with 65’s.

Dubai-based MG Keyser (RSA) representing Jumeirah Golf Estates shot an opening round of five under 65 to be tied sixth.=

Round One scores (Par 70, 6,936 Yards)

S. Hend (Aus) 62.

P. Ingkhapradit (Thai) 63.

S. Lee (South Korea) 63.

J. Ahlers (RSA) 64.

R.T. Lee (Can) 64.