The first round of the International Series of Qatar, the penultimate tournament of the season on the Asian Tour, has practically turned into a monologue by the Spaniards. Three of the five members of the Armada competing in the tournament are among the top five in the rankings, and the other two are within the top 20. A fantastic performance in which, as expected given the level of play he has been offering throughout the season, David Puig (-6) presents his candidacy for victory from the first day.
The golfer from La Garriga, who won the first event of the season on the Asian tour and has not dropped out of the top 10 in any of his other three appearances on the tour, delivered a fantastic card of 66 strokes, with an eagle, five birdies, and just one bogey, to tie for second place alongside Zach Baouchou (-6) and Louis Oosthuizen (-6). Ahead, with just one stroke margin, the South African Ian Snyman (-7) leads the standings with 65 strokes to start at the Doha Golf Club.
Ian Snyman sticks approach to set up a closing birdie on the 18th and seize the clubhouse lead with an opening 65 at the International Series Qatar. 🙌@intseriesgolf @iansnymangolf @DohaGolfClub #InternationalSeries #ThisISEverything #TimeToRise pic.twitter.com/iCA8WplvRD
— Asian Tour (@asiantourgolf) November 27, 2024
Luis Masaveu (-5), playing this tournament with an invitation, and Eugenio López-Chacarra (-5) are tied with two more players in fifth place. Meanwhile, Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño (-3), also invited to play, and Carlos Pigem (-3), who is facing his last chance in the regular season to retain his tour card, are tied for 20th place. Remember that Pigem would need an eighth place to retain playing rights without having to go through the School.
The first ’round’ of the battle between Jonh Catlin (-2) and Ben Campbell (-2) for the top spot in the International Series ranking, which grants a place to play next season in LIV Golf, has resulted in a draw, with the American thus maintaining his advantage over the Australian in the standings. Meanwhile, Patrick Reed (-1) had a slow start, with 70 strokes, after his brilliant victory last weekend in Hong Kong.
