Less than a week after his best friend won a title on the MENA Tour by Arena, France’s Antoine Schwartz felt the inspiration as he took sole possession of lead after the opening round of the Ghala Open earlier today.
The 30-year-old from Suresnes, near Paris, posted a bogey-free six-under par 66 and leads by one shot over a group of exciting young talents at five-under.
The cosmopolitan group lying in wait included two Open Championship Silver medalists – England’s Alfie Plant and Scotland’s Sam Locke – Russian amateur Ivan Striganov, American Kevin Rhoderick, Ireland’s Paul McBride and England’s Jake Ayres.
Winner last week
Schwartz’s close friend Sebastien Gros, winner of last week’s NEWGIZA Open in Cairo and a former European Tour player, shot a four-under par 68 and was tied eighth along with six other players.
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-5 fourth, where he stiffed a three-iron second shot from 258 yards to four feet. He then made another gain on the seventh hole.
“It was a very good round,” he said. “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.” – Antoine Schwartz
“So, he came and won in his second event! I am waiting for my share of the prize money!”
Plant, the Low Amateur of the 2017 Open Championship and Locke, Low Amateur the following year at Carnoustie, were paired together and took different routes to their 67.
Plant’s round included a triple-bogey seven on the par-4 eighth hole before he had a sizzling back nine of 30. Locke was bogey-free after saving a courageous par on the final hole where he drove it into the 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. 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,” said Locke.
Plant added: “My day was ok. I had a triple in there, which is never 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.”
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 of South Africa, started his campaign in Ghala with a two-under par 70.
