Jamega Pro Tour boost for the Mena Golf Tour
The number one development tour in the United Kingdom will offer top players on its ‘Race to the Gulf’ schedule fully paid trips to the MENA Golf Tour next year. In a move reflecting on the growing popularity of the Tour, the Jamega Pro Tour said they will be running two separate Orders of merit with two top players from each category earning the attractive package which includes paid entry and membership fee, flights and subsidised allowance.
The first section on the Jamega’s Order of Merit, based on a point system, will run from Costa Esuri, in Spain, for 10 events while the second Order of Merit section from tournament 11 through to tournament 20,” Jamega said in a report posted on their website.
Established in 2004, the Jamega Pro Tour believes trips to the MENA Tour could provide a ” realistic chance” to their leading players to compete in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in 2014, the year the long-running European Tour event outside the continent will celebrate its 25th anniversary.
The top three professionals and the leading amateur from their respective MENA Golf Tour’s Orders of Merit receive special invitations to compete in the European Tour event.
In addition, the top amateur is awarded with the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation scholarship. The all-expenses-paid scholarship includes a five-week intensive training stint in the run up to the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
With the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship also “considering” the possibility of extending a spot, the MENA Golf Tour players won’t be short on motivation and opportunities to progress to top tier golf.
Mohamed Juma Buamaim, chairman of the MENA Golf Tour, welcomed Jamega’s move, saying: “It quite encouraging to note that the tour is getting worldwide recognition. With players from different countries looking to advance their career, the tour, only in its second year, has managed to create its own niche.
“Of course, winning a spot in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic remains a massive incentive, but the tour, as a whole, is aimed at creating a healthy environment for the region’s players who, hitherto, lacked opportunities to reach their highest level.
“With regular exposure to a quality field, I am sure the day is not far when we will see a MENA Tour player doing well and making a name for himself. That’s the goal,” he added.
A new initiative of the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation, the MENA Golf Tour is affiliated to R&A and the Arab Golf Federation. The six-stop tour, which is backed by Omega and Mercedes-Benz, boasts a combined prize fund of $325,000.
