Austrian Florian Pragant shot a bogey-free four-under 68 to seize the early advantage in MENA Golf Tour’s inaugural El Jadida to the south of Morocco.
The 32-year-old Austrian birdied his very first hole and picked up another three shots on the back nine to cap a good day at work, two shots ahead of England’s Andrew Marshall and three clear of Craig Hinton, also of England, and Sweden’s Morocco’s Yassine Touhami led the amateur division, carding a level-par 72, three clear of his compatriot Jamal Allali.
Pragant, who lost out on his maiden MENA Golf Tour title at the Dubai Creek Open in a three-way play-off at the Dubai Creek Open last year, took centre-stage with a flawless round on a day when nailed-on favourites struggled to break par in tough windy conditions.
Florian Pragant off to a great start in this week;s MENA Tour event. (Photo thanks to Florian)
“Played really good golf and had many nice birdie chances out there,” said Pragant, adding: “My score could have been significantly lower with a little better luck on greens, as some of my putts, at least four to five, lipped out.
“I could have been easily six to seven under, but, at the end of the day, I am very happy with 4-under as the conditions were not that easy because of the wind and also because you needed to shape the ball on some of the holes.
“The course is playing really nice, but you have to be a bit careful on some of the holes which have trees in the middle of the fairways, requiring accurate approach.
“I am pleased with the start and look forward to keep the momentum going all the way through,” said the experienced Austrian.
Elsewhere, Zane Scotland, the winner of the season-opening at Mohammedia last week, returned a 76 while the 2015 MENA Golf Tour Order of Merit Champion Thriston Lawrence of South Africa stumbled to a 78, dropping five
England’s Miles Tunnicliff, a two-time winner on the European Tour, triple-bogeyed the third to settle for a 75 as the fellow English duo of Elliott Oxlade and James Allan, who have recently turned professionals, carded 72 and 73 respectively to keep their hopes alive for a strong finish.
