By Kent Gray
Cennydd Mills could have been excused for calling it a day after his early, eye-catching first round at the Dubai Creek Open, rightly chuffed with a job well done. The only problem was his real job wasn’t done, in fact it was only just beginning.

While the MENA Tour is primarily made up of fledgling young touring professionals and promising amateurs aspiring to a career in the paid ranks, the developmental circuit also offers a start to one teaching pro from the host club at each stop throughout the season.

As the reigning UAE PGA champion, Mills justifiably got the nod from his employers at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club and repaid them in kind with a two-under 69 on Monday to do the region’s teaching fraternity proud. His round included two birdies, as many bogeys and a rare eagle two on the 11th courtesy of a holed lob wedge.

Related: Meet UAE PGA champion Cen Mills

But after impressing a small gallery that included (for a few holes at least) the club’s Director of Golf Operations, Stephen Hubner, and lauded superintendent Matthew Perry, it was back to reality. Mills was needed to help run a clinic for members featuring the tour’s patron Darren Clarke and the tournament’s defending champion, home club hero Rayhan Thomas. There’s no rest for the wickedly good teaching pro, it seems.

Darren Clarke and Rayhan Thomas with lucky DCGYC juniors at Monday’s MENA Tour clinic.

For the record, Mills is only a shot shy of Clarke and a shot better than Thomas heading into Tuesday’s second round.

“I’m happy with a round under par after a break in any competitive play since [the UAE PGA Tour] April,” said the Welshman afterwards.

“Anything again in the red tomorrow would be a great result and it would be nice to play the last round and have a chance of a decent finish.”

Mills will start moving day eight shots behind pace-setter MG Keyser after the Dubai-based South African’s course record 61.

Related: Keyser On Fire With Creek Course Record As MENA Tour Storylines abound

As a home course-pro, there was perhaps no one better placed to put Keyser’s round into context even if Clarke previously jointly held the record and Thomas has likely looped the course more than anyone in the field.

“The 61 today was a great score. The course is in fantastic condition so if you’re on your game then you can shoot a number. The greens are rolling pure and at a nice pace.

“Still, the back nine of 28 is very impressive. That’s a very good eagle on 13 and a strong birdie on 18 to close out the round.”

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Check out the latest tip from Mills who is a Golf Digest Middle East teaching editor here: