Jamie Troughton/dscribe.co.nz
Thomas during last year’s Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Royal Wellington G.C. in the New Zealand capital.
By Kent Gray
MENA Tour stars Rayhan Thomas and Todd Clements endured a tough day personally although the former ended Thursday at the prestigious Bonallack Trophy in Qatar slightly happier than the latter.
After oddly being left out of the Asia-Pacific line-up for the opening fourball matches in the Ryder Cup-style matches at Doha Golf Club, world amateur No.19 Thomas made his bow in the afternoon foursomes alongside Filipino Lloyd Jefferson Go.
But the Dubai-based Indian Thomas and Go were stopped 2&1 by Robin Dawson (Ireland) and Marc Hammer (Germany) as Europe staged an afternoon comeback of sorts following a 3½-1½ reverse in the fourball matches.
Todd Clements
With a 3-2 advantage in the fourball matches, Europe closed the to within a point as Asia-Pacific which will take a 5½- 4½ lead into the second day (of three) on Friday.
Clements, who emulated Thomas by winning the 2017 amateur order-of-merit title on the developmental MENA Tour, also did it tough Thursday. He partnered fellow Englishman Matthew Jordan in both matches but lost to Australians Min Woo Lee and Shae Wools-Cobb 1 down in their fourball match and 2&1 in the foursomes.
The event is named in honour of Sir Michael Bonallack, one of Great Britain and Ireland’s (GB&I) greatest ever amateur golfers and former Secretary of The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (1984-99).
