Rayhan Thomas (left) with his Indian team-mates Kshitij Naveed Kaul and Aadil Bedi at Carton House. 

By Kent Gray
Rayhan Thomas’ ability to go seriously low when it counts is not a new phenomenon.

The Dubai prodigy was just 16 when he signed for an opening 65 – and all three rounds in the 60s – en-route to becoming the first amateur winner of a MENA Tour event at the Dubai Creek Open in September 2016.

Fast-forward to his defence of that historic title this past September and Thomas flirted with golf’s mythical mark of 59 in the second round before putting his autograph on a 10-under 61.

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He eventually settled for a joint runner-up finish at his beloved home event but had the not insignificant consolation of equalling the world record for successive birdies in a professional event – nine –  in that magical 61.

Yesterday the now 18-year-old Indian arguably trumped it all with a nine-under 64 at the Eisenhower Trophy in Ireland to sit atop the individual standings at the biennial world amateur teams championship.

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Dane John Axelsen also fired a 64 but he was an eight-under effort on Carton House’s Montgomerie layout; Thomas’ round was achieved on the club’s par 73 O’Meara course.

Thomas’ score could have been better too – he bogeyed the 16th hole but showed his bounce back-ability with an eagle three at the very next to almost single handily propel India into contention.

India is tied third with Switzerland in the teams competition heading into Thursday’s second round at -9 in a format where the best two of three scores count towards a nations total each day. Kshitij Naveed Kaul contributed India’s other counting score with an even par 73.

Denmark leads on -12 thanks to Axelsen’s 64 and Rasmus Hojgaard’s 68 while hosts Ireland are second on -10.

“This is by far one of the best rounds I’ve ever played, I mean it was just clinical,” Thomas told GolfDigestme.com afterwards.

“I played really well, made the putts this time, hit it solid and did it when it counts which is awesome. I can’t wait for the tomorrow.”

Thomas is off at 12.48pm (3.48pm UAE time) in his second round today on the Montgomerie course and knows the trick now is to back up his magnificent start.

He started with a birdie hiss on Wednesday and roared out in 31 strokes with five more gains. There were further birdies on the 10th and 13th before the bogey blip was quickly forgotten when he left a 275 yard three wood second into the par 5 17th exactly 13 yards shot before promptly draining his putt from off the green.

“It was a great start to the week,” Thomas said in his typically understated manner.

“So yeah, this is a great little boost for the week but it’s just the start, still three days and a lot of golf to be played so keep playing like this and we’ll be fine.”

The UAE, meanwhile, start the second round in a share of 61st place on +10 after a solid even par 73 on the O’Meara course from Khalid Al Jasmi and an 83 from Ahmad Skaik. Saif Thabet had a non-counting 87.

Qatar leads the Arab nation battle in a share of 41st place on +2 while Saudi Arabia is T-56 on +6 with counting rounds from Othman Almulla (73) and Ali Alsakha (77) on the par 72 Montgomerie.