Home player Sam Mullane (JGE) shot a three under par 69 to be the co-leader after the first round alongside Welsh International Joe Jones in the Jumeirah Golf Estates Men’s Amateur Open today (Friday).
The 54-hole event is the penultimate qualifying tournament of the 2022 – 2023 Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) Men’s Order of Merit, in addition to an R&A supported World Amateur Golf Rankings (Men’s Division) qualifier. Tomorrow’s second round will again be played over the Fire course and the final round on Sunday is on Earth course.
20 year-old Mullane began with eight pars and a bogey on hole nine to be out in 37. A brilliant back nine by Mullane of 32, including a run of five threes from the 11th tee; par – birdie – eagle – par and birdie and four pars to be home in four under.
Mullane plays off a +5 handicap, won the 2023 Emirates Men’s Amateur Open and is currently top of the EGF Men’s Order of Merit with just one event to play, the Tower Links Golf Club Men’s Open 8th – 9th April in Ras Al Khaimah.
Joe Jones, has this winter season already won the 2023 Abu Dhabi Men’s Open and this year’s 36 hole inaugural Junior Dubai Desert Classic played over both the Faldo and Majlis Courses at Emirates Golf Club.
Jones had an impressive 15 pars, three birdies and no bogeys in his 18 holes.
Five players beat the par of 72, with a further six players matching par.
Stephen Wilson, Golf Operations Manager at Jumeirah Golf Estates, said at the conclusion of round one, ‘We have had a terrific first day today at Jumeirah Golf Estates with an excellent standard of golf. The weather was ideally calm, albeit a little warm. We have 15 players all within four shots of the lead, and still two rounds to play, so we are guaranteed a terrific weekend of golf.’
Tomorrow’s (Saturday) tee times begin at 6.35 am, with the leaders out last in gross order at 12.35 am from tee one with the final threeball group of Sam Mullane, Joe Jones and Sam’s brother Jay.
Round One Leaders (Par 72, 7,062 Yards Tournament Tees)
1 - S. Mullane (JGE) 69
- J. Jones (Wales) 69
3 - J. Mullane (JGE) 70
4 - J. Selvaraj (Trump International) 71
- R. Menon (Dubai Creek) 71
Six players on level par 72
