Joy for Luke at the Mena Golf Tour Dubai Creek Open after dramatic playoff

Luke Joy parred the second playoff hole with little fluster to defeat Trevor Marshall and win the MENA Golf Tour’s Dubai Creek Open on Wednesday. Playing in his very first MENA Golf Tour event, Englishman finished regulation play tied with New Zealand’s Marshall on a five-under 209 after both closed with matching 68s to extend play.

The duo settled for par on the first extra hole, the 18th, but the drama unfolded on the second when Marshall, a regular on the MENA Golf Tour, found water with his approach after the missing the fairway on the right and ended up with a double bogey.

Joy, who hit the green in two as he did on the first extra hole, holed his par putt with a cool head to make his debut on the MENA Golf Tour a memorable affair.

“It feels just fantastic to win your first tournament in your first appearance in the Middle East. I hope it’s just the start and more success will follow soon,” said Joy after receiving the winner’s trophy from Mohamed Juma Buamaim, chairman of the MENA Golf Tour, in the presence of Mustafa Al Hashimi, CEO of wasl Hospitality and Leisure, and Paula Savage, lady captain of Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club.

“It’s not that easy to score on this course, but it’s a tribute to the competitive spirit of the field that we had some very good performances. There are many good professionals and amateurs playing on the tour, which is great for golf in the region,” said the 26-year-old Englishman, who also received a winner’s cheque for $9,000.

“I hope players like me will keep inspiring amateurs and, hopefully, they soon will be a force to reckon with,” said Joy, who turned professional in 2012.

Overnight leader Craig Vance of England and second-placed Shafiq Masih of Pakistan, along with Scotland’s Tom Buchanan, had their chances to make the playoff, but their nerves went off the red line as they all landed in water on the 18th to fade out of contention.

Buchanan, who represents Al Ain Shooting, Equestrian and Golf Club, settled for solo third after closing with a 69 while Vance and Masih shared the fourth on a three-under 201 after final rounds of 74 and 73 respectively.

Vance, who took a solo one-shot lead going into the final round, however, had the consolation of winning the amateur division, a good four shots ahead of compatriot James Allan.

Lebanon’s Peter Badawy 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.

Badawy, who opened with a 69, finished on a two-over 214, one stroke ahead of Morocco’s Younes El Hassani and UAE’s Ahmed Al Musharrekh.Buoyed by securing his best showing since turning professional in 2012, Al Musharrekh is determined to continue on that upward trajectory this season.

“I’m able to take a lot of confidence out of this finish, a lot of positives really. “I am excited and, hopefully, I will do even better,” said the UAE’s only professional.
 
An initiative of the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation, the MENA Golf Tour travels to Al Badia Golf Club next week where England’s Zane Scotland, who is also a golf in DUBAi ambassador, will be defending his tile.

Leading scores after the final round (par 71)

208 – Luke Joy (England) 70, 70, 68; Trevor Marshall (New Zealand) 68, 72 68
209 – Tom Buchanan (Scotland) 73 67 69
210 – Shafiq Masih (Pakistan) 69, 68, 73, Craig Vance (amateur-England) 68 68 74
211 – Roberto Rodriguez Cacho (Mexico) 70 73 68
212 – Tyler Hogarty (South Africa) 71 72 69; Stuart Archibald (England) 71, 72, 69; Christopher Cannon (England) 70 68 74; Antony Plummer (England) 74 69 69
214 – James Allan (amateur-England) 72, 72 70; Joshua White (England) 74, 68, 72; Peter Badawy (Lebanon) 69, 71 74;
215 – Younes El Hassani (Morocco) 72, 73 70; Ahmed Al Musharrekh (UAE) 72, 73, 70; Joe Heraty (England) 76 71 68.

Pic caption: Dubai Creek Open winner Luke Joy with Mohamed Juma Buamaim, chairman of the MENA Golf Tour, in the presence of Mustafa Al Hashimi, CEO of wasl Hospitality and Leisure, and Paula Savage, lady captain of Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club.