September 23: England’s Ben Jones, whose only professional win came at a 2023 Mena Golf Tour event at Madinaty Golf Club, showed his love for the spectacular Robert Trent Jones-designed golf course in New Cairo once again as he opened a two-shot lead in the Egypt Golf Series 13.

In Wednesday’s opening round, the man from Northampton shot eight birdies and did not give back a single shot to the golf course in a round of eight-under par 62.

Pakistan’s Aadam Syed and Korean Jaeil Kim were chasing Jones at 64, while Saudi Arabia’s Faisal Salhab, Laos’ Thammasack Bouahom, Denmark’s August Thor Host and the Indonesian duo of Jonathan Wijono and Kevin Akbar made for an eclectic group a further shot behind at 65.

The 26-year-old Jones started from the 10th tee and reached 6-under through 10 holes, thanks to a particularly productive stretch of holes from the 15th to first, where he made four birdies, including three straight gains from the 17th to the first hole. On his back nine, he picked up further shots on the fifth and seventh.

“I really enjoyed being out on the course again, and everything just went smoothly today,” said Jones.

“I’ve played the golf course quite a few times now. I’ve had some success around here before, and then we played here early in the year when I finished fourth. So, I don’t know really, but I just seem to always play okay around here.”

Aadam Syed of Pakistan. Picture by Jason Butler/Asian Tour

“I started on the 10th and I birdied the first hole, which was a nice little settler. And then just kept hitting good shots. Didn’t hole everything that I looked at, but it was rolling well today. Five-under for my first nine, and the front nine seemed quite easy from there on. I actually missed a couple coming in, so I felt my ball striking was really very good today.”

Syed, who is hoping to follow in the footsteps of countryman Ahmed Baig and graduate to the main tour, made a solitary bogey on the long par-4 16th hole. However, the UK-based player made amends with birdies on the 17th and 18th for his 64.

“It was really good today. I drove the ball well and putted well, which always helps. I could have been a little bit better with my irons, but overall, very happy,” said the 25-year-old resident of Hayes, who is currently 86th in the Order of Merit.

“The birdie on the 17th felt very good after the bogey on the 16th. I barely carried the water with my three-wood second shot and then made a good up-and-down.

“Ahmed’s absolutely an influence. He played the ADT a couple of years ago and had a great year and got himself promoted. That kind of brought the pathway to light and showed that it was possible. It was very inspiring to see him and how he’s moving on and progressing with his game. The ADT helped him develop into the player he is. So, I thought, why not give it a go for myself?”

Faisal Salhab of Saudi Arabia.

Kim, who finished sixth in Indonesia last month and tied 11th in ADT HCT Open, said he felt lucky with his bogey-free round.

“I hit my irons and putted well, but I feel a little bit lucky. I made two long putts for par on the fourth and 16th holes. They must be about 10 feet,” said Kim, who is hoping to improve this week from his 25th place in the ADT Order of Merit.

“The best birdie of the day was the one I made on the 10th hole. I hit my wedge from 77 yards for a tap-in birdie.”

Salhab was delighted his form was trending in the right direction, especially before the season-ending Aramco Invitational in his home country.

“I’ve always believed that I have a good game. It’s just starting to come out. I am learning how to play golf and not just think about the swing. Grant, my coach, has been fantastic and we are doing a lot of good work with other members of my team. And it’s good for all of us to see some good results.

“I’m really looking forward to Aramco Invitational. I look forward to it every year. The thought process is just do whatever I can, do what I can control, play as well as I can. Aramco is a big event, and there’s a lot of points and money. I really want to earn a card and play on the ADT, and that’s the goal.”

Egypt Golf Series 13, co-sanctioned by the Egyptian Golf Federation, is the first of back-to-back Asian Development Tour events at Madinaty Golf Club.