[Photo: Asia-Pacific Amateur/X]
Australian Billy Dowling hit a screamer of a 7-iron from the Dubai desert that set up one of eight birdies during a 66 that allowed him to take a share of the first-round lead at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship.
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The Queenslander blocked his tee shot into the desert to the right of the par-4 16th at the Emirates Golf Club when he aimed at Dubai’s famous skyline and carved a magic 7-iron from 160 metres to 12 feet from the hole. He made a satisfying birdie that propelled him to a five-under front nine.
“Yeah, just didn’t hit a great tee shot there,” Dowling said watching the replay of the shot. “Pulled out of it, but fortunately I had a good lie [in the sand] and had a shot and I said to my caddie, the line and stance really suits the shot that I have to hit. We were between 7 [iron] and 6 and I was like, 7 is the club, he thought it was 6 but might tell you different. I really committed to the shot shape and pulled it off and holed the putt. It was a really nice birdie.”
