Today's Edition
Abu Dhabi (Aletihad)
France and the United States of America stand atop a crowded leaderboard after the first round of the World Amateur Team Championship at the par-72 Abu Dhabi Golf Club on Wednesday.
Fuelled 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 respectively have taken a one-stroke lead over the Netherlands.
“It was nice to get off to a good start,” said Sargent, winner of the Mark McCormack Medal, given to the world’s top-ranked golfer, and the lone returning American from the previous edition’s bronze-medal finish.
“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.”
His teammate David Ford 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. The best two out of three scores are counted. Bastien Amat and Paul Beauvy (unaccounted) shot a pair of 68 behind Le Goff’s 67 to help France to a 9-under total and match the Americans.
“We are happy with the strong start,” said French captain Antoine Delon. “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 at 3 under-par, highlighted by a chip-in eagle on the par-5 eighth.
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 alone in third place. Reuter 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 share 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 in his fourth Eisenhower Trophy start.
“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.
