Staff WriterIn a thrilling start to the UAE Challenge at Al Zorah Golf & Yacht Club, Vince van Veen and JC Ritchie have set the tone by sharing a one-stroke lead after an impressive opening day.
The UAE Challenge proved to be a stage for spectacular golf as the two frontrunners delivered rounds that had fans and pundits buzzing with excitement.
Amidst the calm morning conditions in Ajman, Dutchman Van Veen took advantage of his surroundings to produce an eight-under-par round of 64.
Starting on the 10th, he birdied three of his first five holes, only to pick up shots on four consecutive holes around the turn—a brief hiccup that did nothing to dampen his spirits.
After tapping in a stress-free par on his closing hole, the 28-year-old couldn’t hide his excitement.
“It was a good one to start with,” Van Veen said. “I’m happy enough with all the things I’ve seen today. I had seen my putting coach prior to the tournament, and I am rolling it nicely, so it was good.
“I hit a couple close but also knocked in a few nice ones. On hole three I think I made one from about 15 to 18 foot range.
Sometimes when you make a couple you keep the momentum going and all of a sudden everything seems to go in.
“I know I am hitting the ball well at the moment and my putting is starting to come around. I need to manage to hit small targets on the greens because some of the pins are very tight here. I think that’s an important thing for me over the next few days.”
Following in the afternoon, South African JC Ritchie mirrored the brilliant performance by also finishing with an eight-under-par round.
Known for his four victories on the HotelPlanner Tour, Ritchie made nine birdies and suffered only one bogey—a solitary dropped shot on the par-four seventh that he quickly rebounded from with a precise closing gain on the ninth.
“That’s what dreams are made of. It was good,” Ritchie said. “I’ve been playing really well lately, the game has been in a really good space and I was really confident coming in. It’s nice to start off the week with a good score like that.”
“It was nice to get a good one away on the ninth, hit a nice little nine iron in there to 12 feet and made a nice putt,” he added.
“I’ve been fighting a couple of monsters the last year or so. The game has been there, it’s just been about staying out of my own way, staying out of my own head and letting the game happen.”
The impressive opening day also saw strong performances from other competitors.
Englishman George Bloor and Frenchman Romain Wattel both carded rounds just one stroke behind the leaders, while Scottish duo Euan Walker and David Law, Indian Saptak Talwar, and Peru’s Julian Perico shared fifth place at six under par.
England’s Chris Paisley and Frenchman Oihan Guillamoundeguy were among the rest of the pack, finishing just one shot further back in ninth.
With the second round of the UAE Challenge scheduled to kick off at 6:30 am local time, anticipation is building.
Ritchie is set to tee off at 07:20 am, while Van Veen will take the stage again at 12:20 pm.
Fans will be eagerly watching as these two battle not only the course but also the psychological demands of an event already shaping up to be a memorable contest.
As the tournament continues, the lively spirit and infectious enthusiasm from the opening day promise more moments of inspired golf.
With both Van Veen and Ritchie leading the charge, the UAE Challenge is proving to be a captivating contest that embodies the best of competitive golf in the region.
