For a second week running Frenchman Lionel Weber is atop of the board on day one after firing a sizzling six-under 66 to set the early pace in the weather-hit Mountain Creek Open by Golf Citizen on Monday.
The Callaway golfer, who is also a brand ambassador of Thailand’s Banyan Golf Club, rattled up seven birdies against a lone bogey on the par-5, 13 th , to move two clear of Switzerland’s Dubai-based amateur Michael Harradine, South Africa’s Tyler Hogarty and England’s Jamie Elson.
England’s Luke Joy, a multiple winner on the MENA Tour, was six under through 16 holes, but a bogey on the 17 th and double on the 18 th left him at three under and in solo fifth, one ahead of three-man group which included Czech Republic’s Cyril Suk, Pattaraphol Khanthacha of Thailand and Blake Snyder of the United States.
Frenchman Lionel Weber, and using Callaway equipment, and takes the first round lead for a second week running in a MENA Tour event
On day when an afternoon thunderstorm forced suspension of play for 70 minutes, 16 players broke par at the Seve Ballesteros-designed course. Just two players were still out on the course when play was called off for the day.
Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond, who won last week’s MahaSamutr Masters — the opening event on MENA Tour’s Thailand swing — reeled off three birdies in his last four holes en route to a 71 that left him sharing ninth in an eight-man group which included India’s top-ranked amateur Rayhan Thomas.
Harradine, who leads the amateur division by three shots, made five birdies and a bogey while Hogarty’s opening round consisted off six birdies and a double bogey as Elson overcame a double bogey to stay in contention.
“I had an early start, but it was pretty hot out there. I had an up-and- down front nine. Doubled the first and then birdied the next four holes which was good,” said Elson, who made the turn at three under.
“My back nines were fairly steady. It’s just one of the courses that demands accuracy off the tee. If you are off line, you are going to lose the ball. Overall, I am very happy my with day’s work.”
South Africa’s Hogarty, who won the season-ending MENA Tour Championship last year, also sounded pleased with his opening round.
“I had a fairly good front nine as I kept the ball in play. This course is of medium length, but you have to hit it straight as it is pretty tight,” he said.
“Back nines are shorter and I played really them well. I missed one shot at 14 when I couldn’t find my ball. I have never been to Asia before and I am really enjoying the Thailand swing — and even losing a bit of weight in this heat,” he said in a lighter vein.
Czech Republic’s Cyril Suk provided the highlight of the day, reeling off six birdies, including three in a row from the first, on the front nine, but struggled to maintain the momentum coming home, eventually settling for a 70.
Elsewhere, England’s Craig Hinton, the winner of the MENA Tour’s Order of Merit title last year, returned a 75 while Zane Scotland, a 10-time winner on the MENA Tour, carded a 78.
