France and the United States of America stand atop a crowded leader board after the first round of the 33rd World Amateur Team Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club on Wednesday.
Fueled by a pair of 5-under 67’s from 15-year-old Hugo Le Goff and world No. 2 Gordon Sargent, France and the USA hold a one-stroke lead over The Netherlands.
Sargent, the lone returning American from last year’s bronze-medal finish, shot one of four bogey-free rounds on Wednesday.
“It was nice to get off to a good start,” said Sargent, the 2023 Mark H. McCormack Medal winner. “I hit it well all day. I was just trying to keep the ball in front of me and keep giving myself chances. It’s super nice not to have a bunch of stress on yourself. I just stayed focused on playing good golf and helping the team out.”
David Ford, who secured the clinching point for the USA in last month’s Walker Cup Match on the Old Course at St Andrews, added a 4-under 68 with seven birdies.
“The biggest strength for David was that he came back after a difficult start, being 2-over after three holes,” said USA Captain Mark Newell. “He made a couple of stroke-saving shots at [holes] two and nine and then he just turned it on.”
All three of France’s players carded rounds of 68 or better in the early wave of the morning. Teammates Bastien Amat (counting) and Paul Beauvy (non-counting) shot a pair of 68’s behind Le Goff’s 67 leading France to a 9-under total of 135 to match the Americans.
Only two of each team’s best three scores count toward the total.
“We are happy with the strong start,” said French Captain Antoine Delon. “It’s difficult to play in this temperature, but we had good preparation, the course is perfect, and the players were very solid. We had no faults. No double bogeys on the team and so many birdies and good putting.”
Le Goff, the fifth-youngest player in the field, played the final three holes in 3 under-par, highlighted by a chip-in eagle on the par-5 eighth.
“I sliced my 3-wood 10 meters right of the green and then hit a 60-degree shot and it rolled and went in,” said Le Goff. “Today, my chipping was really good. I had some incredible short game.”
The Netherlands’ Benjamin Reuter had the individual low round of the day, a 6-under 66, and teammate Jack Ingham added a 70 to position the Dutch in solo third place. Reuter, who plays at Georgia Tech University, registered three birdies and an eagle in his final seven holes.
Gustav Frimodt (3-under 69) and Jacob Olesen (4-under 68) led an afternoon charge for Denmark, who shares fourth with Argentina, Australia and England, two strokes behind the leaders.
“They stayed patient and went about what they had to do,” said Denmark Captain Martin Raal Kold. “We’re a couple of shots from where we hope to be but there’s a lot of golf still to be played.”
Ahmad Skaik, the UAE’s No.1 amateur golfer, had the honour of hitting the opening tee shot this morning in his fourth Eisenhower Trophy start.
“It’s very special, it’s always an honour to hit the opening tee shot,” said Skaik, who carded a first round 80.
“This is the fourth time I’ve been given the privilege of getting a tournament underway, having also hit the opening tee shot twice on the DP World Tour and once at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club. I’m always ready to do it, and hopefully I have plenty more opportunities to do so.
“It’s amazing that the UAE is hosting this great event. Last year, I was only able to play one round so to return to this tournament, on home soil, means everything to me. I’m very grateful and excited for the next three days.”
Skaik’s teammates, Thomas Nesbitt and Rayan Ahmed, shot 76 and 79 respectively.
