����ֱ��

RIYADH: Moroccan amateur Adam Bresnu is in contention at the halfway stage of the PIF Saudi International after posting a solid three-under 68, after a stellar opening round 66, to lie three shots off the lead that is being held by a group of four that includes Cam Smith.

Moroccan amateur Adam Bresnu continued his incredible run of recent form at the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, and the confident youngster admits his goal is to see off some of the biggest names in golf and win the season-ending tournament on The International Series.

Not only did the 20-year-old make the cut, he now sits just three shots off the halfway lead at T11 on eight under after shooting four birdies and just dropping the one shot in a three-under second round.

That leaves Bresnu hot on the heels of the leading pack that includes 2022 Open champion Cam Smith, Chilean sensation Joaquin Niemann, current International Series Rankings leader Peter Uihlein and promising American Logan McAllister.

Bresnu, who recently stormed to the Pan Arab Championship title in the UAE, also made the cut last week at a star-studded International Series Qatar. He said: “To be honest I know my game and I know what I am capable of and I’m pretty sure I belong here. I know my game: I can shoot really low, and go low four rounds straight if I respect the course and my routine.

“I think everyone knows my goal for this week. Right now it is to win for sure but I have to play some really good golf.”

The International Series offers opportunities for emerging regional talent to experience elite level golf on the Asian Tour, and this week gives Bresnu the chance to rub shoulders with some of the biggest names in world golf. Although he is determined to beat them, Bresnu is also using the experience to learn as much as possible.

He said: “Yes definitely, I’m trying to pick up as much as I can. Cam Smith is just amazing, I looked at his putting stroke and it is really pure. I am not trying to be like him, but I am trying to do something similar.

“Also Joaquin Niemann, his wedge game is unreal and DJ (Dustin Johnson) his swing — all of them. I am trying to see how they are, how they practice and how they react on the course. It’s also good to see where I’m at, and from what I saw, I’m not that far, and that is a good thing.”

Bresnu is proud to be flying the flag for Arab golf after the local representatives, Khalid Attieh, Saud Al-Sharif, Faisal Salhab, Shergo Al-Kurdi and Othman Almulla fell short of making the cut.

He said: “It is an honor, not just for Morocco but also for a lot of countries and Arabs. My goal is to say to the world that we are here and we have players and the talent and the level to make it. I might be the first one but my goal is to prepare the future, so we have more chance to bring players on the tour.”