By Kent Gray
For a feel-good narrative with the potential to become a fully-fledged golfing fairy tale, look no further than Team Georgia Hall at the Aramco Team Series – Jeddah.

With Morocco’s Maha Haddioui, Indian Diksha Dagar and his H.E Yasir Al-Rumayyan in her corner, Team Hall earned the opening-round lead at the unique $1 million Pro-Am event at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club on Wednesday.

For deeper context, that’s a former major champion and European No.1 (Hall) leading her captain’s pick (Haddioui) who just happens to be the only Arabic player in women’s professional golf, a 20-year-old who has already won on the LET (Dagar) and, for good measure, the dual chairman of the event’s title sponsor and Golf Saudi. Call His Excellency an amateur with significant global trade and golf business influence if you like.

At -19, Team Hall lead Team Carlota Ciganda by a stroke. Hall’s captain’s knock, a seven-under 65, also sees her joint top of the individual standings with German Olivia Cowan. It all translated to excellent golf and PR gold.

H.E Yasir Al Rumayyan.

Hall finished last week’s Aramco Saudi Ladies International at the same venue 13-under-par and went blemish-free on Wednesday.

“Bogey-free is always a nice round here,” said Hall. “I tried to take advantage of not a lot of wind, and I still missed a quite few putts, but I’m happy with -7.”

Diksha Dagar.

Dagar – who missed the cut at the Saudi Ladies – wasted no time in making amends, shooting an opening-round 68.

“Today was very good in general. I had a very good start, and we have a very good team. We have a chance and tomorrow we can pick it up and continue playing good golf.”

Haddioui, a fan favourite in King Abdullah Economic City, chipped in with some momentum keeping putts.

“It was really fun playing as a team,” said Haddioui. “I started pretty well but couldn’t keep it up on the back nine. But still, I made a few good pars when I needed to and had a few birdies on the front nine too, so it was nice.”

Ciganda had Spanish compatriot Harang Lee, Germany’s Leticia Ras-Anderica, and amateur Lee Seung Su in her team.

“I’m enjoying being on this course,” said Ciganda. “The back nine was tricky. There was a lot of wind today and the last few holes weren’t easy, but we did great as a team – when one player was in trouble we had another in good shape. That’s what you want in this type of format. I had a great time with Harang, Leticia and our amateur and we’re ready for tomorrow.”

Olivia Cowan won the Aramco Team Series – London’s team crown back in July. In sitting joint-top with Hall with two rounds to play, the German could now end this year’s run of Series events with a solo win, too. Team Cowan also sit just three behind Team Hall.

Maha Haddioui.

“I think we just worked really well as a team. On some of the holes where one didn’t do as well, the other two helped out. We had quite a few birdies which definitely helped,” saidn Cowan.

“Our amateur is really good to talk to and he’s really chilled out. We all get on really well, so it’s a good team. The most important thing is to have fun out there – and we’re having a good time, which makes us play well.”