Dubai: Trevor Marshall had a glint in his eye as he made a brilliant start to the MENA Golf Tour’s Dubai Creek Open, firing a four-under-par 67 in Monday’s opening round.

Striking the ball well all day, the New Zealander mixed six birdies, including four on the front nine, with two bogeys to establish a good two-shot lead over the chasing pack, led by defending champion Zane Scotland.

On a hot and humid day when 11 players broke par, Marshall was a model of consistency, repeatedly hitting fairways and making clutch putts.

“It was one of those days when everything seemed to go well out there,” he said.

“I made some good putts early in the round and that kind of set the tone for the day,” said Marshall, who picked up four birdies in a five-hole stretch, starting from third after a dropping a shot on the second.

“The course is playing well and there are enough birdie opportunities out there. You need to patient,” said Marshall, who is attached to Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club.

England’s Scotland, who is currently leading the Order of Merit with $14,000 (Dh 51,415) in earnings from the first two events held in Morocco, had his chances to catch up on Marshall, but three putted on three holes.

“I had five birdies, but just couldn’t keep bogeys off the card. Barring those three bogeys I think I played pretty well and can’t complain much about my round,” said Scotland.

Meanwhile, Welsh ace Stephen Dodd, a three-time winner on the European Tour, settled for one-over 72 while England’s Ross McGowan, the winner of the Madrid Masters in 2009, signed for a two-over 73.

South Africa’s Tyler Hogarty was four-under standing on the 18th tee, but double bogeyed the last to lose the early initiative. “I misjudged my approach shot and laded in water and that spoiled what would be a solid round,” he said.

England’s James Allan led the amateur division with a fine 2-under 69, one ahead of his compatriot Max Williams, the winner of the Order of Merit for amateurs in 2012, and Michael Harradine of Switzerland.

The UAE’s Ahmad Al Musharrekh did well to shoot a three-over-par 74.

“I felt a bit rusty, but overall I am satisfied with my day’s work,” said Musharrekh, who double-bogeyed the second, but steadied his round with a birdie on the sixth.

“The tournament is still wide open and I am sure I can fight back into contention,” he added.

“The swing changes that I made recently are working well.”

Meanwhile, Rayhan Thomas, a Dubai-based scratch golfer from India, made history of sorts, becoming the youngest player ever to tee off in a MENA Golf Tour event. He posted a nine-over 80 after playing the back nine on level par.