Hinton on takes lead on day one of Mena Golf Tour Abu Dhabi GOLF CITIZEN

Craig Hinton seized the early initiative on the opening day at the MENA Golf Tour’s Abu Dhabi GOLF CITIZEN Open as Welsh ace Stephen Dodd and Morocco’s Soufiane Rochdi were lurking four shots off the pace.

The Englishman, who turned professional last month, fired a four-under-par 68 to surge one stroke clear of Nicholas Mullhaupt (Switzerland) and Stuart Archibald (England) and two off Spain’s Antonio Arjona Bueno.

Hinton, who represented England in the Eisenhower Trophy last year, mixed five birdies, including four on the back nine, with the lone bogey at par-4, 16th to overshadow many seasoned professionals in the field.

Dodd, a three-time winner of the European Tour and the defending MENA Tour champion, played consistently on both nines to stay in contention along with Morocco’s Rochdi as pre-tournament favourite Zane Scotland slipped to a four-over par 76 after playing the first 11 holes at two-under.

Scotland’s David Law, who finished runner-up twice in a row this season, admitted to playing “poorly” after settling for a three-over 75 and so was the case with South Africa’s Tyler Hogarty, who signed for 4-over 76.

Morocco’s Yassine Touhami topped the amateur division with a creditable level-par 72, one ahead of young Rahyan Thomas.

Thomas, a 13-year-old Dubai-based prodigy from India, disqualified himself at last week’s Ras Al Khaimah Classic after signing for an incorrect score, but amply made for the unintentional mistake with a solid all-round play.

He made the turn at two-under before dropping three shots coming down the stretch on this challenging 7,806-yard ocean course, designed by Gary Player.

Earlier, Khalfan Al Kaabi, a board member of the Emirates Golf Federation, lauded the MENA Golf Tour, saying it has provided the players, especially from the region, a perfect platform to hone their skills.

“Mohamed Juma Buamaim (chairman of the tour) is vastly experienced when it comes to promoting and organizing international golf events. I am sure the tour will continue to grow under his leadership. I wish him the very best,” he said at a Press conference held to mark the start of the Abu Dhabi GOLF CITIZEN Open.

Leading scores after first round (par-72)

Professionals:
68 – Craig Hinton (England)
69 – Nicholas Mullhaupt (Switzerland), Stuart Archibald (England)
70 – Antonio Arjona Bueno (Spain)
71 – Trevor Marshall (New Zealand), Clarke Lutton (Scotland), Christopher Cannon (England), Roberto Rodriguez Cacho (Mexico), Stephen Ferreira (Zimbabwe)
72 – Berni Reiter (Austria), Sebastian Heisele (Germany), Stephen Dodd (Wales), Johannes Steiner (Austria), Jürgen Maurer (Austria), James Westwood (England), Soufiane Rochdi (Morocco), Bernhard Neumann (Germany)

Amateurs:
72 – Yassine Touhami (Morocco)
73 – Rayhan Thomas (India)
74 – James Allan (England)
75 – Ahmed Marjan (Morocco)
76 – Michael Harradine (Switzerland)

Pic caption:
Khalfan Al Kaabi, a board member of the Emirates Golf Federation, is flanked by Paul Booth of Saadiyat Beach Golf Club and Mohamed Juma Buamaim, chairman of the MENA Golf Tour, at a Press conference on Monday