ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
Australia’s Coby Carruthers made the most of an invitation from the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) by shooting a bogey-free eight-under-par 62 to lead the Abu Dhabi Challenge after the opening round at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club.
The 21-year-old won the inaugural UAE Cup at the same course in October 2024 as an amateur. That success earned him a place in last year’s Abu Dhabi Challenge and Asian Tour Qualifying School, and he has returned this week as a professional among the 30 EGF places.
Among the late starters, Carruthers took advantage of calmer afternoon conditions. He birdied the difficult second, the drivable par-4 fourth and the seventh to turn in 32, then came home in 30 with further birdies at the 11th, 12th, 14th, 16th and the par-five 18th. The closing birdie left him one clear of Belgium’s James Meyer de Beco. Carruthers missed only one fairway and two greens.
“I got off to a nice start. I holed a good birdie putt on the second and just kept it in play off the tee,” he said. “I think I missed one fairway today and two greens, and I know it’s super important to stay out of the rough here. Everything was quite solid. I drove it well, I holed a few solid putts and I just kept giving myself chances, and that’s what you’ve got to do around here.
“A couple of years ago I won the UAE Cup, and the EGF have been nice enough to invite me the last two years, which has been really nice. That’s how I got in the field. It’s not that easy, I promise. It was just about resetting and getting back in a good headspace.
"I’ve played well here before, so it’s nice to be back. I’ve been struggling the last few days on the range, but I put all that behind me today and just played, which is what I think I’m good at. I’m going to go out there and have fun, keep hitting fairways and greens, and see what happens.”
Meyer de Beco also played bogey-free, turning in 31 with four birdies in five holes from the second, including a two at the third, and finishing with birdies at the 12th, 13th and 18th for a 63. The 26-year-old, 68th on the Road to Mallorca Rankings, is chasing a place in the Final Swing and a first appearance at the Grand Final.
“Obviously when you’re bogey-free, it’s always a good round and I’m really happy with it, especially in these windy conditions,” said De Beco. “My putter was hot, nearly as hot as the temperature. My driver wasn’t working too well but I still managed to hit it close out of the rough, and then the putter was really good.
"I’m going to try and not think about what’s at stake too much. The most important thing is to keep everything relaxed and hopefully the birdies continue to come. It would mean a lot to get to Mallorca. That was the main goal of the season.”
Belgium’s Matthis Besard, Germany’s Michael Hirmer and Denmark’s Victor Sidal Svendsen share third on six under after 64s. A seven-way tie on five under includes England’s Tom Sloman, Germany’s Jan Schneider, Italy’s Matteo Cristoni, the Netherlands’ Lars van der Vight, Denmark’s Hamish Brown, Australia’s Haydn Barron and American Alex Goff.