Czech Suk lands the Shaikh Maktoum Dubai Open with final hole birdie finish

One shot off the pace going into the final round, the 21-year-old Florida-based prodigy served notice of his burgeoning talent by becoming the first player from the Czech Republic to win a MENA Golf Tour event since its inception in 2011. Playing only in his second tournament on the MENA Golf Tour, Suk mixed five birdies with a bogey in his closing 68 to move to nine-under 207 that stood up as his nearest challenger Luke Joy, playing in the final group, finished second two shots adrift with England’s Paul Doherty taking third on a six-under 210.

Standing on the 18th tee at nine-under, England’s Joy needed a birdie for an outright win, but the winner of last week’s Dubai Creek Open found water from a greenside bunker and ended up with a double-bogey to surrender the advantage.

England’s joint overnight leader Matt Fitzpatrick faded out of contention after he took a nine on par-5, fifth which was followed by a double bogey on the next, eventually closing with a six-over 78 to finish in a for the seventh on a level-par 216.

It was Suk who stood out with the most consistent performance of the week. “I really played well and won in the end. It feels great to win my first tournament as a professional,” said Suk after receiving the winner’s trophy and a cheque for $9,000 from the Mohamed Juma Buamaim, chairman of the MENA Golf Tour.

“I knew the leaders (Joy and Fitzpatrick) will play well, but I concentrated on my game. Making two early birdies on the front nine kept the momentum going and I am really happy to get the job done. I was unfortunate to see Luke (Joy) walk off with a double on the closing hole,” said Suk, who turned professional in November last year.

“This is my second tournament on the (MENA) Tour and I can tell the competition is great. The course conditions were just perfect,” said Suk, who missed the cut last week with rounds of 76 and 78.

England’s Joy had no regrets in finishing second. “I think I played really well, going bogey-free for 50 holes. That double-bogey on the closing hole was unfortunate. But that’s golf. Take it on the chin and get back on the horse as soon as possible.”

England’s James Allan returned a final round 69 to win the amateur division on a three-over 219, two shots ahead of Switzerland’s Michael Harradine.

Morocco’s Younes El Hassani won the MENA Division for the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation Award, which recognises the performance of the top three region’s professionals and amateurs from their respective divisions in each event, on a four-over 220, two shots ahead of compatriot Faycal Serghini and five off UAE’s Ahmed Al Musharrekh.

The MENA Golf Tour travels to Abu Dhabi next week for the Ascorp GOLF CITIZEN Open at the Saadiyat Beach Golf Club.

Pic caption: Shaikh Maktoum Dubai Open winner Cyril Suk with Mohamed Juma Buamaim, chairman of the MENA Golf Tour, and James Shippey, golf club manager at Al Badia Golf Club