John Catlin continued his love affair with the Royal Golf of Dar Es Salam course, starting the US$2 million International Series Morocco with a five-under par 68 and a tie for lead at the halfway stage of the opening round on Thursday.
American Catlin, who was denied here last year by New Zealand’s Ben Campbell’s stunning eagle-birdie finish and lost in a playoff, was six-under through his opening nine – the back nine of the golf course. However, two bogeys on his way back dropped him to a share of the lead with another multiple International Series champion, American Peter Uihlein.
Korea’s Hongtaek Kim, winner of the GS Caltex Maekyung Open last year, and Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut were tied third on 69, while Australia’s Kevin Yuan and Thai Chanat Sakulpolphaisan were a further shot behind on a calm Thursday morning.
Who is going to follow in the footsteps of the International Series tournaments in India, Macau, and Japan here in Morocco. Let’s bring you up to date with what’s been happening on this opening morning. Hong Kim, who won the Busan Open on the Korean Tour just last month, hold this at the eighth, his 17th to complete a round of 694 underpar. Sit Toanarut of Thailand as his second into the second from the greenside bunker. How about that? Third birdie of the day for Sarah. He too would make birdie at the eighth and 17th. That was his second. He would hold it for birdie. A boggy free round 69. And perhaps no one in the field more motivated to win this event than John Catton who lost in a playoff last year. Got off to a flying start. 600 par on his front nine. Added a couple of bogeies coming to this point. But his beautiful second shot into the par 58. His 17th hole. We’ll set up a chance for an eagle from just off the green. But he’ll tw in with a five under par. Opening round. Peter Uline. Slow start to him for his day. Five one over par with his first five hold, but made the turn three under that lovely third shot at the par five. Will secure a round of five under 68 as his opening round. Off. A fairly lengthy one for Birdie. As you say, off to a poor start, but that should help the attitude. Utah Sukiura tied for second in international series Japan in May. The older Vincent Scott There’s England’s Ben Jones just getting his round underway. This is his very first hole. Second shot this long par4. Now third shot into the par five for Carrera. A beautiful pitch. Pitching it from the right half of the fairway. Don’t have to contend with the slope on the green. Now Truma the Moroccan recently moved from Sam Houston State University to the University of South Florida. I use the far leftand side of the tea box. I like this for Michael Maguire. Never really kicked on after that victory at Black Mountain, but well, that should help his cause. Pencil him down for a two. I’d like to think this putt’s going to move a little off the left for Suburro, but just watching Ollie Snider Jans’s putt earlier, it looked like it it drifted left as it lost pace near the hole. With a doubt, straight and firm. There you go. Well done. He’s been putting well all year. This man all year. You could say that again. Dump. Oh, Maguire. Big booming T-shot. And a pretty darn good second. So this one should be snapping left early. Stay online. Yeah, well done. And with that birdie, Tugiura is within one of the leaders. Well, I’ve mentioned Schwarzel’s good putting this year. He ranks second on the Liv League. And when you consider the great putters on that league like Lucas Herbert, Cam Smith, Peter Uline, the list goes on. It’s pretty impressive stat. Oh. After that handily played pitch shot forward Xiao to get to two wonder. Yeah, confidently hold for the Chinese player. Eagle putt for Jonathan Broomhead who finished fourth on the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit last year. Just saying that we’re not seeing too many putts hold. That’s a beauty for what a birdie. You just get the sense that was such a big putt for his psyche. Like Dom said, you know, you’ve got scoring opportunities coming up. He gets this round back to even par. He won’t be overly enamored with it, but certainly better than being the wrong side of par. Oh. Oh, what a good looking putt that was. Uh, the putters bailed him out again. Hardworking fall for Schwarzel on the 13th. A birdie opportunity for Samson Zen at the 13th. It’s one he converts very nicely indeed. Torn tipong was four over par through 11 holes and went eagle birdie on the previous two holes. Oh, he’s going to get all those lost strokes back. Wonderful T-OT. And back to Broomhead for his two putt birdie on 17. Yeah, nicely held. Back to three under pop. He loves this hole. He sure does. What a putt. All credit to Ben Campbell. Back to even power for the back nine. Only one over now with the 18th of par five to come. I tell you what though, guys, it’s going to be an interesting day tomorrow, isn’t it? So many players within so few shots. Thanks for watching the Asian Tour on YouTube. Don’t forget to like and subscribe.
