Dipesh Makwana named winner of the 2014 Luckiest Ball on Earth Series

After 22 events played across 20 Emirates Golf Federation affiliated golf clubs in the UAE with 818 competitors taking part Dipesh Makwana was named winner of the 2014 Luckiest Ball on Earth Series after a sterling performance at the Grand Final held on the Fire course at Jumeirah Golf Estates on Sunday 12 October. Makwana played some outstanding golf to beat the 20 other Luckiest Ball on Earth Grand Final competitors with a fabulous net Stableford score of 43 points and will now be given the opportunity play in the Rolex Pro-Am, the curtain raiser to the US$8 million DP World Tour Championship to be held on the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates Thursday November 20 to Sunday November 23. Playing in the Pro-Am will be 46 teams captained by the European Tour professionals including the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson.
 
“It’s unbelievable, I entered the qualifier at Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa thinking, ‘I’ll just go have a round of golf and enjoy the day’. I didn’t think I’d ever qualify for the final but I did,” said 18-handicapper Makwana before revealing a further twist in the tale by admitting he is due to be on his honeymoon when the Rolex Pro-Am gets underway on Tuesday 18 October.
 
“But I’ve had a phone call with the wife-to-be and I’m negotiating with her to fly back just for the Pro-Am!” he smiled. “I’m taking her out to dinner tonight so that should help.
“I’ve only been in Dubai for 18 months and I heard about this event last year but didn’t enter so this year I wanted to give it a go. It’s a really fantastic series.”
The Luckiest Ball on Earth Grand Final saw players teeing off in threeballs from the Signature Tees on the Fire course and after a hard-fought contest two players were tied for the runner-up spot on 37 points. But it was 2012 Luckiest Ball on Earth winner Ornella Parigi of Jumeirah Golf Estates who came out on top of a card countback leaving Saadiyat Beach Golf Club member Raymond Rice in third place.
 
Parigi also won the Ladies Longest Drive on the 15th, while Johan Llena of The Address Montgomerie, Dubai claimed both the Nearest the Pin and Men’s Longest Drive on holes 14 and 15.
 
The Luckiest Ball on Earth Series has proved a roaring success since it was launched in 2011 when Kevin Barrett of Arabian Ranches Golf Club won his spot in the Rolex Pro-Am. Since then Parigi in 2012 and Maureen Platt (Emirates Golf Club) last year, have enjoyed the once-in-a-lifetime experience of lining up next to some of the game’s biggest names and it is an experience that Dipesh Makwana will now be treated to.
 
Nick Tarratt, Director, European Tour International – Dubai Office said: “We have had a very successful Grand Final of the fourth edition of the Luckiest Ball on Earth Grand Final yesterday (Sunday) at Jumeirah Golf Estates. The Fire course was a fitting test for the finalists especially bearing in mind the intention to host the DP World Tour Championship on the Fire course at least once in the next four-year sponsorship cycle.
 
“Congratulations to Dipesh on his tremendous victory and we wish him well in the Rolex Pro-Am. Our thanks go to especially the Emirates Golf Federation for sanctioning this initiative through all the EGF affiliated golf clubs in the UAE and to Jumeirah Golf Estates for hosting the Grand Final on Fire. It is now five weeks until the Tournament Week is upon us and all logistical planning at Jumeirah Golf Estates is all on track.”
 
Picture captions:  1. Luckiest Ball on Earth winner Dipesh Makwana is pictured with Nick Tarratt, Director, European Tour International – Dubai Office. 2. Luckiest Ball on Earth winner Dipesh Makwana is pictured with Neal Graham General Manager, Club Operations, Jumeirah Golf Estates.
 
The top 10 European Tour Race to Dubai Rankings as of 13 October following the Portugal Masters:
 
1.    Rory MCILROY                    €5,400,699
2.    Sergio GARCIA                    €2,275,712
3.    Jamie DONALDSON           €1,856,696
4.    Thomas BJORN                   €1,780,152
5.    Henrik STENSON                €1,691,231
6.    Martin KAYMER                   €1,570,937
7.    Justin ROSE                        €1,503,781
8.    Victor DUBUISSON             €1,477,224
9.    Stephen GALLACHER        €1,406,033
10. Joost LUITEN                       €1,359,927