Dubai based Adrian Meronk (Pol) leads alongside Rasmus Højgaard (Den) and David Law (Scot) on 11 under par, 133, after 36 holes of the $2 million Ras Al Khaimah Championship at Al Hamra Golf Club, Ras Al Khaimah on the DP World Tour.
29 year-old Meronk, who lives just a one hour drive from the venue, and currently 52nd in the OWGR and sixth in the 2022 – 2023 Race to Dubai Rankings, started on hole 10 in this second round.
Four birdies in a row from hole 11 saw him out in 32. His second nine over holes 1-9, saw further birdies on holes 1, 3 and 8 with no bogeys for a round of 65 to go along with his first round of 68.
Meronk spoke after his round, ‘I hit a lot of solid shots and made some great putts. It was quite calm in the morning so you could aim at the pins and go quite aggressive, which I did. I was down wind (on the fifth) so went for it and pulled the drive a bit, hit the cart path. I thought it was in the water but the ball stayed in the bush. I was just trying to smash it out, and the ball went through the bunker to 20 feet. Unfortunately, I missed the putt but it was the shot of my day.’
Rasmus Højgaard shot a second round 67 to go along with his first round 66, and he would have led on his own but for a three putt on the home hole from just off the green from 26 yards.
Scot David Law had a bogey free 64 in his second round along with his 69, with a brilliant finish on the back nine: five under for his last five holes with an eagle on the 14th and a par on hole 18, and birdies on 15, 16 and 17.
First round leader Ryo Hisatsune (Jap) shot a second round 70 to be in tied fourth.
Of the locally based players: Rafa Cabrera Bello (Spain) shot a 66 to lie in tied 15th, and fellow Spaniard Adri Arnaus, tied 19th on six under with a brace of 69’s. Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel) made the cut on four under with a second round 68, and Adrian Otaegui (Spain) finished two under for his two rounds.
The 36 hole cut fell at two under par 142, with 71 players making the weekend.
Round Two Leaders (Par 72, 7,400 yards)
A. Meronk (Pol) 68, 65 = 133 (-11)
R. Højgaard (Den) 66, 67 = 133 (-11)
D. Law (Scot) 69, 64 = 133 (-11)
R. Hisatsune (Jap) 64, 70 = 134 (-10)
W. Besseling (Ned) 68, 66 = 134 (-10)
D. Gavins (Eng) 68, 66 = 134 (-10)
