DOHA: Tyler Hogarty shot a three-under 69 to seize the early initiative in the MENA Golf Tour’s Qatar Classic at Doha Golf Club yesterday.
Starting from the 10th tee, young Hogarty mixed six birdies, including three in a row from the 16th, with three bogeys to surge one shot clear of the English trio of Daniel Owen, Daniel Wardrop and Lee Corfield.
Stephen Dodd, winner of the last week’s Abu Dhabi Golf Citizen Open, headed the chasing pack on a 71 as England’s Zane Scotland, a four-time winner on the tour this season, stayed in contention with a level-par 72. The day belonged to Hogarty, who, at one stage, reached five under, but a bogey-bogey finish prevented him from consolidating the early lead.
“I am not too fussy about the finish. I think I played nicely and it was a solid day out there,” said the 21-year-old from
“The course is playing very well. The greens are good and so is the layout,” said Hogarty.
On a bright sunny day when 10 players broke par, England’s James Allan carded a one-under 71 to lead the amateur division, one ahead of Morocco’s Karim El Hali and two of Switzerland’s Michael Harradine.
“I really enjoyed playing on this course,” said El Hali. “Except for two three putts, I didn’t make any major mistake. Hopefully, I can shoot a better round tomorrow,” he added. The Moroccan duo of Younes El Hassani and Ahmed-Reda Rhazali joined England’s Scotland and Yasin Ali in an eight-man group on level par to spearhead the region’s challenge.
Elsewhere, UAE’s Ahmed Al Musharrekh settled for a five-over par 77 while Qatar’s leading amateur Saleh Al Kaabi carded a 79. THE PENINSULA
