In a bizarre twist, both players started the day minus a set of golf clubs. The day got even worse for IronHeads GC star Scott as he returned empty handed after a fruitless run to the airport to reunite with his bag.
To compound his woes he incurred a two-shot penalty, and narrowly avoided a DQ with seconds to spare, for arriving at the first tee – with a borrowed set from the club pro – after his scheduled tee time of 12:30.
Brother Kieran ended up teeing off with a hastily assembled set which included a selection of clubs from friends in the tournament who stepped in to support the Zimbabwean. Legion XIII team-mate Caleb Surratt supplied the irons, Taichi Kho provided a driver and Ian Snyman chipped in with a wedge. Jaco Ahlers even provided some golf balls for the day.
Given the tricky situation, the rounds were nothing short of spectacular. Scott roared back from his two-shot penalty with five birdies and an eagle on the par-five eighth to sit just two shots off co-leaders John Catlin and Kozuma Kobori of New Zealand.
Kieran started off with three bogeys in total, two in his first three holes, but birdies on four, eight, 12 and 17 gave the 25-year-old a one-under round of 72 which he “would have signed for straight away” had it been offered before his round.
Scott, who also played with the same clubs on the pro-am, said: “I had zero expectations today but feel we definitely learned something that will help us get better in future. So in a way it was great to play, the pressure was off and I just wanted to see what would happen.
“We have an early turnaround (for the second round) so the plan is to play with the same clubs unless they can be couriered. Entertaining for the Vincents, for sure!”
Kieran said: “Lucky enough, we have some really cool people out here on the Asian Tour – it is a friendly tour. A lot of people had clubs, bits and pieces, but obviously it is hard to make up a full set when you do not have anything, so we have a bit of a mixed bag here!
“I have talked a lot to myself about adapting, no matter what, whatever the situation might be. And so just being able to go out there with none of my stuff, even golf shoes, I am taking in the moment, and we will just take it as it comes.”
International Series Morocco is the eighth event on the Asian Tour and third of ten elevated events which offer a pathway onto the LIV Golf League. The tournament runs from 4-7 July.
