Joachim Hansen stormed to the top of the leaderboard on day one of the Aviv Dubai Championship, after posting a superb nine under par 63 on a low-scoring day at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
85 of the 100-player field shot under par for the first round on the Fire course, including the UAE’s Ahmad Skaik, who carded the lowest ever European Tour round by an Emirati with a four under par 68.
“It’s hard to put it into words how it feels,” said Skaik. “I really could trust my game out there today which feels amazing, I think I hit 16 greens, so I felt in control of the ball.
“To see my Dad’s smile at the end there means everything. My goal coming into this week was to make the cut and that remains the same, I’ve made a good start, but I need to now keep my head down and do more of the same tomorrow.”
Hansen, who is trying to play his way into the DP World Tour Championship next week, found himself in possession of a two-shot lead at the end of play, carding nine birdies on his way to a flawless 63.
“I had some good practice days with my coach here the last few days, my game yesterday looked solid, good warm up on the range today and had confidence going out there and it showed itself” said Hansen, “I loved it, no wind, perfect conditions and lovely to play in. I kept the ball in play, hit a lot of fairways in the first 14 holes but I holed the putts I needed, missed a few but you can’t hole them all.”
Dean Burmester, Antoine Rozner, and Andy Sullivan all sit two-shots back having shot solid 65’s during the morning wave, as well as Englishmen Paul Waring from the afternoon wave.
Fan-favourite and European Ryder Cup hero, Tommy Fleetwood, carded a 66, to sit just three shots back as he looks to enter the winner’s circle for the first time since the 2019 Nedbank Golf Challenge.
“I drove it well, I did a lot of very good things but there were a couple of sloppy things out there that you would like to, on a really good day when you feel like you can get it going, you would rather not to.” He said.
Day two play begins at 7am tomorrow morning, with Hansen teeing off at 11.40am, while home favourite, Skaik, begins his bid to become the first Emirati to make the cut at a European Tour event at 11.20am on the 10th tee.
