JGTO Abroad: Defending champion Kanaya off to a modest start in Oman

Takumi Kanaya began his title defence bid at the International Series Oman in Muscat with a solid opening two-under-par 70 on Thursday, putting him five shots off the pace.

Kanaya endured a roller-coaster day at Al Mouj Golf, mixing his scorecard with an eagle and two birdies, along with a pair of bogeys, leaving him trailing in-form leader David Puig of Spain in tied 26th position.

Puig, the winner of last week's Malaysia Open, fired a 65 to lead by one shot from Chilean star Joaquin Niemann.

Another Japanese player, Naoki Sekito, matched Kanaya's effort with a bogey-free round.

Jinichiro Kozuma and Tatsunori Shogenji both battled to 74, lying joint 91st, while 19-time JGTO winner Hideto Tanihara faces a tough task following his 76.

In Nairobi, Rikuya Hoshino kicked off his quest for a second DP World Tour win in as many weeks by shooting a modest one-under-par 71, tying for the 38th spot, just four strokes behind Darius Van Driel of the Netherlands, who set the early pace with a 66.

Masahiro Kawamura shared 16th place after a 69, but 2022 JGTO Prize Money King Kazuki Higa faces early elimination after carding a disastrous 76, lying at a lowly joint 126th.

On the PGA Tour, Ryo Hisatsune, buoyed by his recent invitation to the Masters Tournament, signed for a two-under-par 69 to claim a share of the 29th spot at the Mexico Open at Vidanta. He enters the second round six shots adrift of Erik Van Rooyen of South Africa.