Mena Tour News Information and Results

Shaikh Maktoum Dubai Open set for an intriguing contest as a strong field assembles

Three tournaments. Three new champions. The 2014 edition of the MENA Golf Tour is proving to be a tough conundrum to crack as it heads to Al Badia Golf Club this week for the Shaikh Maktoum Dubai Open, keeping the suspense alive. In a sign of the growing strength on the tour, the $50,000 event will again see no clear favourites as a heady and diverse mix of professional and amateur players from 28 countries line up for honours in what promises to be an exciting fare.

Included in the 126-player field that comprises 26 amateurs are Joshua White, who is currently leading the Order of Merit after the first three events on the tour this season, Luke Joy, the winner of the Dubai Creek Open last week, and James Allan, who heads the Order of Merit standings for amateurs.

The English trio will be joined by compatriots Jake Shepherd and Zane Scotland and Stephen Dodd of Wales — the Order of Merit champions in the previous three editions of the tour — in a strong filed which is further bolstered by the presence of Matt Fitzpatrick, one of the most exciting young prospects in world golf.

With six victories under his belt since the inception of the tour in 2011, Scotland will return to defend his title at Al Badia Golf Club, hoping to continue his run of success.

But the 32-year-old Englishman, who is also a golf in DUBAi ambassador, played down expectations, saying: “Golf is a great leveller. What has happened is history. It’s a new tournament and you have to play as well as you can and hope for the best.

“There’s no secret formula (to success),” he said. “The golf course is right in front of you. There’s no hidden secret out here. You’ve just got to go out there and play well.”

England’s Craig Vance, who led in the first two rounds of the Dubai Creek Open before finishing tied fourth, will be the player to watch in the amateur division. The plus two handicapper, who represents Ras Al Khaimah’s Tower Links Golf Club, has nearly won every major tournament in the UAE since he first started playing here in January this year and will be hoping to keep the momentum rolling into Al Badia Golf Club.

In the MENA Division for the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation Award, which recognises the performance of the top three region’s professionals and amateurs in each event, it will be interesting to see how Morocco’s experienced professional Faycal Serghini recover lost ground after missing the cut at the Dubai Creek Open.

He will be up against Lebanon’s Peter Badawy, compatriot Younes El Hassani and UAE’s Ahmed Al Musharrekh, who all did well last week, finishing inside the top 15. “A tied 14th place (at the Dubai Creek Open) is just the beginning. More success is right around the corner,” said the UAE’s only professional after his best finish since turning professional in 2012.

Organisers of the MENA Golf Tour believe the initiative has hit the right notes in putting the region’s golf on a trajectory for growth as manifested by the overwhelming response to the tour this season.

“The tour has created its own unique space in the golfing world and I am confident the day is not far when it is recognized by the International Federation of Golf Tours. The recognition will be a great boost for the tour, enabling professionals to earn world ranking points,” he added.

“From our side, we will continue to do our best to raise the bar. We are fortunate to have the backing of major golf clubs like Al Badia that play a crucial role in the success of an event,” he said.

James Shippey, golf club manager at Al Badia Golf Club, said: The course is in fantastic condition, thanks to months of preparations. Credit goes to Patrick Ryan, the course superintendent, and his team for the marvellous job they have done.

“We have moved some of tees back to make the course more challenging. It will be a good test of golf.

“We are all very excited to once again welcome the MENA Tour to Al Badia Golf Club and look forward to a great week of golf.”

An initiative of the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation, the MENA Golf Tour was created in 2011 with the aim of developing golf in the region. It is affiliated to R&A, the worldwide golf governing body based in the home of golf, St Andrews, and the Arab Golf Federation.

Pic caption: Mohamed Juma Buamaim, chairman of the MENA Golf Tour, is flanked by Peter Badawy of Lebanon, James Shippey, golf club manager at Al Badia Golf Club, and Luke Joy, the winner of last week’s Dubai Creek Open, at Al Badia Golf Club.

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