Dodds experience helps him to win the Shaikh Maktoum Dubai Open at Al Badia Golf Club

The script finally held good as Stephen Dodd dug deep into his experience to win the Shaikh Maktoum Dubai Open, the fifth and the penultimate event on the MENA Golf Tour, at Al Badia Golf Club on Wednesday.

Starting the final round one behind, the three-time winner on the European Tour closed with a 69 to go 11-under for the tournament, winning the title – his first since the 2011 Welsh National PGA Championship — by a good two shots ahead of English duo of Zane Scotland and Martin LeMesurier.
Overnight leader Mohammed Munir of Pakistan stumbled to a disappointing 75, finishing tied fourth at six-under along with Sebastian Heisele (Germany), Fredrik Quicker (Sweden) and Lindsay Renolds.
England’s Max Williams, who put together rounds of 72, 69 and 71, emerged as the leading amateur on four-under 212, five strokes clear of Morocco’s Mustapha El Maouas and Peter Stagonavski of Macedonia.
Dodd, who dropped shots on the first and the third hole, needed to overcome what he called a “tricky start” with three birdies in a row, starting from the 13th.

“Patience was the key out there. I managed to hole some great putts when I needed to and that made all the difference,” said Dodd after receiving the winner’s trophy and a cheque for $9,000 from Ebhraim Abdul Malik, secretary-general of the General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare.
Adel Zarouni, vice chairman of the Emirates Golf Federation, and Mohamed Juma Buamaim, chairman of the MENA Golf Tour, were also present.
“It feels nice to have a victory under your belt. It will give me enough confidence boost going into the European Tour qualifying School in November,” said the Welshman.

“Every win is special since all tours these days have many good players. I will try and repeat the feat at next week’s MENA Tour Championship and, hopefully, finish among top three in the Order of Merit. That the immediate goal,” said the 46-year-old veteran.
The top three professionals on the Order of Merit and the leading amateur will receive invitations to the 2013 Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

Pakistan’s Munir, who was aiming for a back-to-back victory, handed the initiative away with three bogeys in the first three holes and just couldn’t recover despite picking up shots on the seventh and the 10th.
“I had my chances, but didn’t feel very comfortable with my putter. This is golf, things always don’t go you away,” said the Pakistan number three, who won the Ras Al Khaimah Classic last week.
Leading scores after the final round:
205 – Stephen Dodd (Wales) 68 68 69
207 – Zane Scotland (England) 68 71 68; Martin LeMesurier (England) 70 67 70
210 – Sebastian Heisele (German) 67 69 74; Mohammad Munir (Pakistan) 69 66 75; Fredrik Quicker (Sweden) 64    77 69; Lindsay Renolds (Canada) 70 71 69
211 – Peter Richardson (England) 75 70 66; Sean McNamara (US) 74 70 67
212 – Max Williams (AM) 72 69 71; William Harrold (England) 69 69 74
213 – Callum Nicoll (Scotland) 69 73 71; Ian Keenan (England) 72 68    73;
Yasin  Ali (England) 70 69 75; Michael Borrett (England)     70 75 69214 – Ross Bain (Scotland) 71 67 76; James Housby (England) 69 70 75.
Leading amateurs:
212 – Max Williams (England) 72 69 71
217 – Mustapha El Maouas (Morocco) 74 72 71; Peter Stagonavski (Macedonia) 74 70 73
221 – Ahmed Marjan (Morocco) 73    75 73; Nacer Makroune 71 71 79; Michael Harradine (Switzerland) 70 77 74.

Pic cation:
Stephen Dodd receiving the winner’s trophy from Ebhraim Abdul Malik, secretary-general of the General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare, as Adel Zarouni, vice chairman of the Emirates Golf Federation, and Mohamed Juma Buamaim, chairman of the MENA Golf Tour, look on at Al Badia Golf Club