Home hope Yash Majmudar shot an opening 69 to card a three-under par and lead the Jumeirah Golf Estates Amateur Open on Saturday.
Taking place on the Fifre Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates, the tournament is part of the Emirates Golf Federation Men’s Order of Merit.
Majmudar shot nines of 34 and 35 including six birdies that could have been an even better card, but for a double-bogey 7 on 13. He was four-under through 12 however the double took him back to two under.
He then birdied hole 16 to go to three-under, and missed out on birdies on the final two holes, after giving himself two very makeable opportunities and posted a 69.
One shot behind is Arjun Gupta of Trump International on 70. The tournament was played from the 7,062 yards tournament tees.
The round saw consistent winds all day of 10-15 kph with stronger gusts, which unsettled many of the 104 players in the field.
Last week’s Emirates Amateur Open winner Monty Scowsill struggled with a one-over 73.
The second round will be played on Sunday over the Earth course with the leaders out last in score order.
The leading Emirate Golf Federation Member after 36 holes will secure an invite to the Ras Al Khaimah Classic to be held on February 10-13 at Al Hamra Golf Club courtesy of EGF.
Leaderboard
Y Majmudar (JGE) 69
A Gupta (Trump) 70
V Sorenson (Trump) 70
R Gulati (EGC) 70
D Kirkwood (ADGC) 71
P Darnault (JGE) 71
