Markus Maukner of Austria put in a steady display to take a two-shot lead into the second round of the Qatar Amateur Golf Championship at the Doha Golf Club yesterday.
Taking advantage of calm conditions in the morning, the 22-year-old shot a four-under par 68 to lead the Netherlands’ Pierre Verlaar Jr, who posted a 70.
Qatar’s Saleh al-Kaabi was in third place, a further one shot behind on 71. Maukner, Verlaar Jr and al-Kaabi were the only three players who bettered par in the first round of the 31st edition of the tournament.
“I am very pleased with my effort. But for a double bogey on the 10th hole I could have had a better score, Qatar’s al-Kaabi said.
Al-Kaabi, who is aiming to become the first Qatari winner of the tournament, is hoping to produce a better display in the second round.
“I plan to be steady and play with a mix of caution and aggression. It remains to be seen how the wind will behave tomorrow. Today it was calm in the morning,” he added.
Meanwhile, defending champion Rayhan Thomas of India kept himself in the hunt with a 73 to be placed fifth with two more rounds to go.
Thomas, who is the top amateur in the UAE, won the tournament in a play-off last year after scoring a birdie on the last hole. Several golfers ended up with unflattering scores – a feature of amateur tournaments. The winner of the event plus the two best-placed Qatari players will get to play in the Qatar Masters later this month.