Reece Goodyear opened up a slender one-shot lead after the first round of the 37th Qatar Open Golf Amateur Championship at the Doha Golf Club yesterday. The Englishman was the only golfer to register an even-par 72 on the day as rest of the field struggled on a windy course.
The 12-year-old South Korea-born Russian Daniil Sokolov – a Doha resident – also got off to a fine start as he sits on joint second with Wales’ Joe Jones, returning with a card of one-over-par 73.
Another Welshman James Nash was third with two-over-par 74 in the opening round, followed by Dinesh Kumar, Sam Epstein and Myles Taylor, who carded 75 yesterday.
Pakistan’s Omar Khalid Hussain, Matias Camberos, Greg McClure, Jake Wiltshire and Phil Park were joint fifth with identical cards of 76 – four strokes behind leader Goodyear. Qatar’s Saleh Ali al-Kaabi and Ali al-Shahrani – winner of the 2021 edition – shot five-over-par 77 on the first day.
A total of 126 players including nine Qatari golfers are taking part in the event that offers a coveted Commercial Bank Qatar Masters berth to the winner.
The list of golfers includes 77 contestants of different nationalities, who play at different clubs in Qatar while the rest have travelled to Doha to take part in the event.
Apart from a spot at Qatar Masters - to be held from October 26 to 29 this year - top 10 players will receive prizes at the conclusion of the tournament.

Leading first-round scores at DGC (par 72)
72 - Reece Goodyear
73 - Joe Jones; Daniil Sokolov
74 - James Nash
75 - Dinesh Kumar; Sam Epstein; Myles Taylor
76 - Greg McClure; Matias Camberos; Omar Khalid; Jake Wiltshire; Phill Park