Max Kennedy, playing on a tournament invitation, opened up with a two-under-par round of 70 in the Saudi Open, the final event of the 2025 Asian Tour campaign, but it was Indian Saptak Talwar who stole the headlines thanks to a course-record setting 64.
After playing on the MENA Tour in Portugal last week, the Dubliner continues to keep his game tournament-sharp ahead of the 2026 HotelPlanner Tour season, and was among the early starters in the opening round at Dirab Golf and Country Club.
A steady start saw him record pars on each of the opening nine holes, and it wasn’t until the par-5 10th that he opened his birdie account, and he bookended the nine with another birdie on the par-5 closing hole, completing a bogey-free round that leaves him tied for 39th after day one.
Talwar, playing in the last group of the day, birdied his final hole in fading light, to take the first round lead along with the honour of the new course record.
The 26-year-old from Delhi has played in only a handful of Asian Tour events since turning professional in 2021 but embraced the opportunity today making four birdies on each nine, in a bogey-free round.
American John Catlin, the defending champion and reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, and Jack Thompson from Australia are tied for second following 65s – in the season-ending event.
Thailand’s Runchanapong Youprayong and Jazz Janewattananond, Bjorn Hellgren from Sweden, Charles Porter from the United States and Moroccan amateur Adam Bresnu are next best placed after 66s.
Chinese-Taipei’s Chang Wei-lun, playing in the last group with Talwar, was seven under playing his final hole – which was the ninth as they started on 10. However, he made a bogey after failing to get up and down from the edge of the green.
Japan’s Kazuki Higa shot a 69, and is in a tie for 24th, to start well in his bid to wrap up the Asian Tour Order of Merit title. Making the cut tomorrow will put him within touching distance and require Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent, in second place, to record a top four finish to have any chance of catching him. Vincent, who won The International Series Rankings three weeks ago, returned a 70.
Talwar won for the first time as a professional this year, at the Adani Invitational Golf Championship on the Professional Golf Tour of India. It was played on his home course, Jaypee Greens Golf & Spa Resort, and he showed some of that winning form today.
“I was honestly anticipating some wind today,” said the Talwar, who played college golf at Sacred Heart University in NCAA Division 1.
“Yeah, so when I came in this morning and it was pretty quiet, I was just hoping it stays like it, because the guys in the morning were kind of making some birdies. Yeah, happy to get off to a good start. Take advantage of the calmer conditions. I think it’ll get windy at some point.”
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