RIYADH: Duncan Stewart eagled the par-5 13th hole and finished on 6-under 66 to take a two-shot lead after the first round on Monday in the American Express Dirab Golf Championship at Dirab Golf & Country Club.

Fresh off a runner-up finish in the European Challenge Tour’s Kazakhstan tournament, Stewart compiled 6 birdies, 1 eagle and 2 bogeys in a rock-solid start to the fourth leg of the MENA Golf Tour.

“It’s good. I like the course. It’s nice to be back after playing last year,” said the 29-year old Stewart, a Scottish, who divides his time between the MENA Tour and Challenge Tour.

Defending champion Pakistani Shafiq Masih, fighting off pressure as he felt a lot was expected of him as the title holder, joined the British pair of Zane Scotland and Greg Nicolson at 4-under, two strokes off the pace.

Scotland, winner of the third leg, Creek Open, in Dubai last week, shot 68 to take the clubhouse lead that Nicolson, looking for his first win on the MENA Tour, tied later in the day.

Scotland mixed seven birdies, one bogey and a double bogey in a 34-34 round while Nicolson enjoyed a bogey-free card with birdies on 7, 9, 13 and 15, a par-5 where his 3-wood rescue shot landed on the left of the green. He then chipped to within 15 feet of the cup and made the putt.

The Lahore-based 36-year-old Masih, whose participation on MENA Tour is sponsored by Techaccess, hit his approach shots close to the pin but failed to convert birdie opportunities on some holes including the last where his putt from five feet lipped out.

Stewart deposited his 3-iron second shot from 230 yards to the apron of the green 50 feet from the cup. Faced with a choice to either chip or putt, Stewart used the putter and made the first eagle of the tournament on the dog-leg right 13.

Stewart hit the turn on 4-under 32 with consecutive birdies on 4, 5 and 6, and another on 9 where he reached the green in two for a two-putt birdie.

On the way home, Stewart bogeyed No. 10 but picked up a shot on the next hole, parred 12 and dropped another shot after the eagle on 13 before holing his sixth birdie on par-5 15th where he two-putted from 15 feet after a lovely drive and approach shot. He parred his last three holes.

Tommy Mou of the United States was alone on 69 while four players namely William Harrold, Daniel Owen, Fredrick Quicker and Michael Harradine were bunched another stroke back on 70.

Morocco’s Mustapha El Maouas was the leading amateur after the first round on 71 in a tie with Nicholas Mullhaupt of Switzerland, South Africa’s Tyler Hogarty and Jonathan Fransson of Sweden.

Saudi Arabia’s best hope, Faisal Salhab, was on 75 and one ahead of Bahrain’s veteran and legendary amateur golfer Nasser Yacoob who signed for a 76.

After Tuesday’s second round the cut is to be applied with the leading 50 places and ties and 10 leading amateurs to qualify for the final round.