Chilean Antonio Costa fired a 66 to take one-shot lead on the opening day of the inaugural MENA Tour’s MahaSamutr Masters at Banyan Golf Club.
The 27-year-old Chilean rattled off four birdies and an eagle in his flawless opening round, highlighted by impeccable approach shots, as England’s Stuart Archibald and rising Indian amateur Rayhan Thomas shared second on five-under-par 67s.
American Berry Henson, who finished in a tie for 34th at last week’s Mauritius Open, and Englishman Craig Hinton were a further shot back on four-under, one clear of a six-man group which included MENA Golf Tour’s Order of Merit leader Zane Scotland and his fellow Englishman Miles Tunnicliff, a two-time winner on the European Tour.
It was Costa who took centre-stage with his personal best score on the MENA Golf Tour he joined earlier this year.
Antonio Costa shoots 66 day one of the MENA Tour event at Banyan Golf Club.
“I struck the ball consistently well and felt very comfortable with my long game. All my approach shots were close, to within 10 or 12 feet, which was great,” said the Chilean, who earned his playing privileges on the tour through the qualifying school held in Sotogrande in Spain earlier this year.
“My score could have been a lot better had I putted well, but you can’t complain after opening with a 66,” said Costa, who eagled the par-5, eighth after smashing his hybrid iron from 220 yards to within 10 feet.
England’s Archibald settled into a groove after making a bogey-birdie-bogey start, playing his last 14 holes in six under.
“I played really well, especially on the back nine. Chipped in for an eagle on the par-5, 12th which certainly was the highpoint. My front nine was just okay. Made some silly mistakes there which resulted in a couple of dropped shots on par-3s,” said Archibald, a Hampshire native.
“In fact, I have been playing good golf, but not scoring that well. Very happy to be able to string together a good round. I really enjoyed the company of my playing partners which helped,” said the Englishman, who went out with fellow Englishman Miles Tunnicliff and South Africa’s Michael Dreyer.
India’s Thomas, who is currently leading the MENA Golf Tour’s Order of Merit for amateurs, described his opening 65 as one of his best rounds on the tour. “I don’t think I left any shot out there. Played just solid golf,” said the 16-year-old Dubai-based prodigy who finished second at last week’s event at Mountain Creek.
The English trio of Luke Joy, Fredrik Edmunds and Scott Campbell, along with Fredrik Lindblom of Sweden, completed the group for a share of sixth on three under as Wolmer Murillo, the winner of last week’s MENA Golf tour event at Mountain Creek, was tied for 12th on two-under 70.
An initiative of the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation, the MENA Golf Tour was created in 2011 with the aim of developing golf in the region. It is affiliated to R&A, the worldwide golf governing body based in the home of golf, St Andrews, and the Arab Golf Federation and enjoys the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) status.
Multiple European Tour starts, including the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, the Hassan II Trophy and the Maybank Championship Malaysia in addition to full playing privileges on the Sunshine Tour and exemptions into the Final Stage of the Asian Tour Q-School for the leading three professionals are some of the added incentives for the MENA Golf Tour members.
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