Stephen Dodd set a course record with a six-under-par 66 to surge into a two-shot lead after the first round in the Abu Dhabi Golf Citizen Open at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, the second event on the 2012 Mena Golf Tour.
But the UAE's Ahmed Al Musharrekh again endured a frustrating day, signing off with an 81.
"It wasn't the start I expected. It was tough out there. Hopefully, things would better tomorrow," he said.
Dodd, a three-time winner on the European Tour, had eight birdies, and bogeys at the eighth and 18th holes were the only blemishes on his card. Even more pleasing to him than a run of birdies was the way he got the course record.
"Everything fell in place today. I drove the ball well and hit a lot of good putts. Golf, for a change, was quite easy out there," said the 46-year-old Welshman, who was the runner-up to England's Zane Scotland in last week's Dubai Creek Open. "It's a great start to the tournament, but you never know what will happen over the next two days. I have found the early rhythm and getting close to the form where I want to be and that's something quite satisfying."
Dodd will start today's second round with a two-shot advantage over Ross McGowan, the winner of the 2009 Madrid Masters, the English amateur Tyler Hogarty and Germany's Roland Steiner.
Wales' Brian Lee was a further shot adrift and behind him were the English quartet of Steven Munro, Alex Christie, Ian Keenan and Daniel Wardrop, along with Manish Goyal of India and the Swede Fredrik Quicker.
Scotland, the defending champion who held the course record with the 67 he shot in the final round last year, had to settle for 74.
England's McGowan felt he played well overall, but made some silly mistakes.
"I double bogeyed the fifth after hitting the water and on the 11 and 12th I just couldn't make up and down. Take these three holes away, I think I played perfect golf, making some important putts on the back nine," he said.
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Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
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if you go
The flights
Emirates offer flights to Buenos Aires from Dubai, via Rio De Janeiro from around Dh6,300. emirates.com
Seeing the games
Tangol sell experiences across South America and generally have good access to tickets for most of the big teams in Buenos Aires: Boca Juniors, River Plate, and Independiente. Prices from Dh550 and include pick up and drop off from your hotel in the city. tangol.com
Staying there
Tangol will pick up tourists from any hotel in Buenos Aires, but after the intensity of the game, the Faena makes for tranquil, upmarket accommodation. Doubles from Dh1,110. faena.com
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A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
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