AN unlikely source of trouble denied York golf star Simon Dyson posting a top 20 finish to the first round of the Qatar Masters.
Dyson finished the first round among the leading 50 of the $2.5 million tournament after he carded a steady one-under-par 71.But the opening nine holes were of a topsy-turvy nature for the world number 73, whose card was significantly blighted on the 223-yard par-three third – the longest of the course’s four par-three holes.
After birdying the first hole, the 35-year-old Malton & Norton golf Club ace double-bogeyed the third with a five that set him back considerably.
Another dropped shot followed on the seventh only for that to be regained with a birdie on the very next hole.
Fortunately, Dyson was far more prosperous on the inward nine, where one bogey on the 11th was comfortably surpassed by birdies on the tenth, 12th and 17th holes to leave him six shots shy of overnight leader Ricardo Santos of Portugal going into today’s second round.
Harrogate GC’s John Parry, who in the winter regained his European Tour card, notched a level-par 72.
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