By Kent Gray
With a course record, a hole-in-one, a former major champion in contention and even what is arguably now the most famous rock in Middle East golf to discuss, the resumption of the MENA Tour season certainly wasn’t lacking storylines on Monday.

Mathiam “MG” Keyser led the excitement with a sizzling 61 to open up a three shot lead over Englishman Stuart Archibald and Swede Fredrik From on the first day of the Dubai Creek Open.

The Dubai-based South African, two under at the turn, negotiated Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club’s homeward nine in a scarcely believable 28 strokes courtesy of six birdies and an eagle on the par 5 13th, the latter thanks to a six iron second to three feet.

His historic career-best -10 loop, which included a bogey on the par 3 8th, saw Keyser eclipse the previous course record – jointly held by Darren Clarke, Lee Westwood and Australia’s Benjamin Eccles – by two shots.

“Played a good, solid round and didn’t make any stupid mistakes out there,” said Keyser in what shapes as the understatement of the MENA Tour season thus far.

“Just kind of everything fell together, ball striking, putting. I am really enjoying my golf, especially for the last couple of months. The course is in great condition with greens running so true and so perfect, which makes putting a little bit easier.”

Australian Peter Stojanovski and Teagan Moore (South Africa) head into Tuesday’s second round tied for fourth on -5, five adrift of Keyser on a red-letter (and number) day for the tour following a 10-week, mid-summer hiatus. One shot further back is a five-man group including India’s Abhishek Jha who produced the shot of the day, acing the 155-yard par-3 5th with his nine-iron.

Seven players shot 68s, MENA Tour patron Clarke among them. The 2011 Open champion mixed four birdies with a bogey on the 5th to stay in the hunt but will need his putter to co-operate a little more over the final 36 holes if he is to seriously contend.

Clarke played alongside Swede From, who carded a 64 to kick on from his victory in May’s rain-shorted Pattana Golf Championship, and home course hero Rayhan Thomas.

Thomas, the defending champion, signed for a one-under 70 which included a regulation par on the 18th hole where a plaque in honour of his (only slightly fortuitous) 2016 victory was earlier unveiled.

Related: “Rayhan’s Rock” ensures Thomas’ Dubai Creek legacy is set in stone, literally

“I was off to a slow start with two bogeys in the first three holes, thanks to a cold putter,” said Thomas afterwards.

“Though I played the back nine at two-under, it wasn’t good enough. I need to shoot at least six or seven under to haul myself back into contention tomorrow.

The Junior Presidents Cup bound-teen could simpathise with Clarke, Europe’s 2016 Ryder Cup captain who is eyeing the Champions Tour in the US next year. “It was fun playing with Darren. He is such a great guy. He really hit the ball well, but just couldn’t hole anything.”

Elsewhere, England’s Zane Scotland, a two-time winner of the Dubai Creek Open and the holder of a record 10 MENA Tour titles, settled for a 73 while the UAE’s Ahmed Almusharrekh carded a three-under 68.

Archibald went bogey and stress-free with an eagle on 10 the highlight.

“I haven’t played competitive golf for the last three months and so had no high expectations of myself. I just went out there hoping to keep mistakes to a minimum. Making an eagle from the waste area on the 10th really kicked started my round,” said Archibald who negotiated the back nine at five under.

From, 28, paid tribute to DCGYC superintendent Matthew Perry after his 64.

“The greens are too good, which makes it quite a scoreable golf course.”

Keyser, who turned professional in 2013, knows that all too well but is determined not to get ahead of himself on Tuesday, the MENA Tour’s traditional “moving day”.

“I’ll just try and play the same way as I played today I hope, and see what the outcome is.”

If it is half as good as Monday, the South African will be hard to beat.

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