The UAE’s Joshua Grenville Wood got off to a strong start at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, with the 25-year-old looking to continue his four-week stint of DP World Tour events with a top ten finish at Doha Golf Club.
Grenville-Wood, who was awarded UAE citizenship last year, signed for a solid two under par 70 after making three birdies on the back nine to finish the round in a share of 14th in what is the DP World Tour’s final tournament of a five-event stretch in the Middle East until November’s Abu Dhabi Championship.
If Grenville-Wood was to finish inside the top ten this week, just as he did at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship last month, he would automatically secure a spot in the Magical Kenya Open and help him on his way to achieving full DP World Tour status for the 2025 Race to Dubai season.
Three ahead at the top of the leaderboard lie Zander Lombard and Wu Ashun, with the former continuing his fine run of form.
The South African, who finished in a tie for second at last week’s Bahrain Championship presented by Bapco Energies, is currently on a run of 17 events without missing a cut and looked at ease as he birdied the second, sixth and eighth holes to make the turn in 33. Two further gains at the 16th and 18th saw him draw level with China’s Wu to share a one-stroke lead after 18 holes.
"Just really solid,” said Lombard.
“I drove it nicely and hit a lot of greens which makes it pretty easy in this breeze, I didn't have to up-and-down much.
"I think I only missed two greens where I had to chip and the other one was just off and I putted it, so it was stress-free and a lot of lagged putts and the greens are beautiful, so slick and fast so everything looks like its rolling in at the moment.”
