Ali Parlane carries lead into final round of Els Club Men’s Open

Golf - Parlane — Ali Parlane came up with a consistent round of three-under 69 to take first round at Els Club Men's Open. Image Credit: Supplied photo

Dubai: Ali Parlane (The Els Club) shot a first round of three-under par 69 to take a three-shot lead into Sunday’s final round of the 36-hole Els Club Men’s Open, a qualifying event on the 2021-2022 Emirates Golf Federation Men’s Order of Merit.

Parlane, currently 10th in the seasonlong Men’s EGF Order of Merit, boasting a +3 handicap, opened up with a front nine of four under par 32, with birdies on holes 3, 4, 7 and 9.

A double bogey on the par-four 10th hole stopped Parlane from running away with the lead, but an eagle 3 on hole 13 put him back on track. A bogey, birdie, par and bogey finish over his last four holes, saw the leader finish with a 69.

Tied second on 74 were three players: Valdemar Kofod-Olsen (EGC, +1.8), Jonathan Selvaraj (Yas Links, Abu Dhabi, +6.1) and Louis Klein (The Els Club, +2.7).

Selveraj looked set to be a threat to Parlane after a front nine holes of 34, but he had to settle for a two over par score with five bogeys and just one birdie on his back nine. Klein had a mixed bag of a round with 5 birdies, 6 pars, and 7 bogeys.

21 players in the field broke 80.

The current leader of the Men’s EGF Order of Merit, Toby Bishop (Trump International Golf Club) shot a disappointing 81 to lie tied 27th.

The Men’s tee times for tomorrow’s final round are from 6.40 am, with the leaders out last at 11.44 am with the three-ball of Kofod-Olsen, Klein and Parlene.

Sunday also sees The Els Club Ladies Open, 2022, with a field of 22 players, including 11 players entered as non-members of the home club. The event is a qualifier for the 2021-2022 EGF Ladies’ Order of Merit.