LESS than a week after his best friend won a title on the MENA Tour, Frenchman Antoine Schwartz was enjoying the rub-on effect as he took sole possession of lead after the opening round of the Ghala Open on Monday.
The 30-year-old from Suresnes, near Paris, posted a bogey-free six-under par 66 and was leading a bunch of exciting young talent by a shot after a five-under par 67.
That cosmopolitan group included two Open Championship Silver medalists – Kent’s Alfie Plant and Scotland’s Sam Locke – Russian amateur Ivan Striganov, American Kevin Rhoderick, Ireland’s Paul McBride and Wentworth’s Jake Ayres.
Schwartz’s best friend Sebastien Gros, winner of last week’s NewGiza Open, in Cairo, and a former European Tour star, shot a 68 and was tied eighth along with six other players.
At the Ghala Golf Club, Schwartz started the day on the 10th tee and picked up shots on the 15th, 18th and second holes, before making an eagle on the par-five fourth, where he stiffed a three-iron from 258 yards to four feet.
Schwartz then made another gain on the seventh hole to post the leading total on the first day in Oman.
“It was a very good round,” said Schwartz, who had shot a 10-under 62 on the MENA Tour last year in Dubai Hills.
“I hit the ball solid and even though I missed a few other birdie chances, you cannot be disappointed with a 66. There are always going to be a few putts that you are going to miss,”
“Sebastien is my best friend and it is always good to see your best friend do well. We both have the same status on the Challenge Tour and we will not get many starts before May.
“So we got talking and I told him that instead of staying in France, he needed to try the MENA Tour because it is an amazing Tour with very good weather, very good golf courses and very good competition.
“So, he came and won in his second event. I am waiting for my share of the prize money!”
Plant, the Silver Medal winner as the low amateur at the 2017 Open at Royal Birkdale, and Locke – the low amateur 12 months later at Carnoustie – were paired together and took different routes to their 67s.
Plant’s round included a triple-bogey seven on the par-four eighth hole before he had a sizzling back nine coming home in just 30.
Locke was bogey-free after saving a courageous par on the final hole where he drove it into some wispy bushes, then chipped out backwards and made his up-and-down with a putt from 12 feet.
“I played very steady today and was bogey-free,” said Locke. “Managed to save a good par in the end, which is always nice. Just need to get my wedges closer tomorrow and it can be even better.”
Plant, who had a successful season on the EuroPro Tour in 2019 earning a card on the Challenge Tour said: “My day was all right.
“Had a triple in there, which is always nice to see. But I bounced back well from that and had a chance to shoot 29 on the back nine, but missed a short putt on the last.”
Striganov, a 16-year-old from Moscow, was delighted with his round that included two bogeys and was his second-best round in a competition.
“I shot a seven-under par in Portugal recently. But this was very nice because I made seven birdies and did not make too many mistakes and played really well,” said Striganov.
Dubai-based 15-year-old Josh Hill, the reigning Amateur Journey to Jordan champion, shot an even-par 72 after hitting his first tee shot out of bounds.
Professional Journey to Jordan champion, MG Keyser, from South Africa, started with a two-under par 70.
•For second round scores in Oman click here.
