Rafael Cabrera-Bello grabs early lead at Dubai Desert Classic: Live Leaderboard Part-1
The first round of the star-studded Omega Dubai Desert Classic is currently underway at the scenic Emirates Golf Club. While most have already completed their respective rounds, some of the top-ranked European players are still edging towards their penultimate holes.
Spaniard Rafael Cabrera-Bello shot a magnificent nine-under, 63 in the morning to surge to the top of the leaderboard.
The 27-year-old is looking for his second European Tour victory and will be hoping to bank on his early success in the last leg of the European Tour event in Middle East.
Bello, who hails from Gran Canaria, opened up his bid with two opening birdies on the back nine.
Through the middle of the nine-hole stretch, he carded another two and made the turn with three consecutive birdies on the last holes.
He carded two more on the opening front nine and closed his bogey-free round on top. He is currently leading the event, two shots better than the nearest contender Siem Marcel of Germany.
Bello has been playing professional golf since 2005 and has four victories on his belt.
Like most of the Spanish golfers who have experienced success in Middle East, he will be relying on his ability to tackle windy courses over the weekend.
Earlier in the morning, Marcel surged to the top of the leaderboard, carding no fewer than four birdies on the back nine but had to let go off his early lead, owing to a bogey on the 18th.
He made the turn to card another four birdies on the front to settle for the second place for the moment. He is currently sharing the second spot alongside Scott Jamieson.
Another of the young players on the European entourage, Jamieson is looking for his maiden European Tour victory and has done well so far to make it possible on the weekend.
A Glasgow Scotland native, Jamieson is an Augusta State University graduate and turned professional in the year 2006.
He carded five birdies and a blistering eagle at par-five, 13th and did not drop a single shot through the opening 18-hole stretch.
Frenchman Gregory Bourdy is now poised at joint fourth alongside Dane Thomas Bjorn, Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts and South African Richard Sterne.
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