Marshall leads Bahrain Open Golf

Manama : Five-time winner Andy Marshall carded a two under par 68 and holds a one stroke lead after the opening day of the two-day 53rd Bahrain Open Golf Championship being played at Awali Golf Club (AGC).

A maximum field of 108 were in the fray which included the top golfers from Bahrain and entrants from the Gulf region and Europe, including Bahrain’s own Nasser Yacoub, a 6-times winner and the 2015 Open Champion, returning to defend his title. 

Also present were English professional Marshall, David Park, the Scottish professional and winner in 2004 and AGC’s former club professional; Daniel Owen, the Bahrain- based professional; and Matt Chalmers, AGC’s current head professional.

Playing conditions in contrast to just a couple of days earlier could not have been better.

The early leader was Hamad Al Aathem finishing one over the course par seventy which was then equalled an hour later by Yacoob closely followed by Mohammed D. Al Noaimi and Ali Saleh Ali with two over par 72s.

During the afternoon, Park produced a superb one under par 69 to take the lead, with Owen joining the small group at one over. But there were still two hours of play to come and an hour from the close, Marshall did not disappoint the assembled spectators by finishing with a stunning two under par, and Sultan Al Hakam joined Park at one under.

Play tees off today at 7:00am and will continue until around 4:30 pm with admission free to all spectators who are welcome to follow their favourite players around the course.

Earlier on Wednesday, heavy rains had curtailed the Corporate Day for the Tournament Sponsors early as the 16 four-player teams teed off just after midday but only managed to complete eight holes before the thunder and lightening forced an early end to proceedings.

By the time players reached the clubhouse, the heavens had opened, everyone was soaked through, and the 18th ‘brown’ had become a lake.