Ireland’s David Carey Sole Leader

Ireland’s David CAREY took the lead of the Ein Bay Open at the Sokhna Golf Club (Egypt) to enter the final round of the tournament on Thursday at -10.

Carey is closely followed by Alavaro Arizabaleta (Col, -9) and Michele Cea (Ita, -8) in the Alps Tour’s first tournament of the 2018 season.

« I did not start as well as I wished to, I made a sloppy bogey on my first hole, I made 4 birdies in 5 holes, around the turn and that kind of got me back on track and then I played very nicely the whole way in » Carey said. « Tomorrow, I just need to go out and play  the way I’ve been playing. I actually haven’t really held any putts, hopefully a few more putts go in, I will keep playing the way I’ve been playing and it should be a good day » he added.

Best performer of the day was Ireland’s Conor O’Rourke who shot 7 under par. He enters the final day of the tournament in 6th place at -6.

« I played nicely, I just had to stay really patient. Because the last few days I felt I played quite well but it did not really come through » O’Rourke said. « I expect David (Carey) to play quite well tomorrow so anybody behind is going to have to make a lot of birdies and not many mistakes » he added.
The 26-year-old native of Naas turned in today his best card since turning pro last year.

« It’s a great privilege to access the Alps Tour here in Egypt where I’m from, it gives me maybe some kind of advantage over so many good golfers of the Alps Tour so it’s an enjoyable experience for myself. It’s definitely a very unique experience, mixing up all the rising golf star » said Abdelmonem El Shafei, one of the two Egyptian players invited along with Maged Abdel Tawab.

Weather conditions were particularly good for most of the day despite winds picking up in the afternoon. Temperatures were in the 20s degrees celcius.

The Top 40 players and ties who made the cut today (+1) will tee off tomorrow morning for the final day of the Ein Bay Open.