White and Marjane lead strong Mena Golf Tour contingent at the inaugural 2014 Dubai Open
Newly-crowned tour champion, Joshua White, will lead an impressive array of MENA Golf Tour talent at the DUBAi Open when the Asian Tour’s final event of 2014 gets under way at The Els Club Dubai in December.
Quiet by nature, the Englishman the most noise on this season’s MENA Golf Tour, winning the Order of Merit title ahead of long-time leader and compatriot Luke Joy with Zane Scotland settling for third.
The talented English trio is among a 23-strong MENA Golf Tour contingent, who will pit their skills against the elite of the Asian Tour in a ground-breaking week that will also provide them with a chance to earn precious World Ranking Points.
The distinct presence of the MENA Golf Tour players in the DUBAi Open, promoted and organised by golf in DUBAi, is a reflection on the growing relationship between the Asian Tour and MENA Golf Tour.
Most of the 23 MENA Golf Tour players qualified for Dubai’s newest tour event, including many of the region’s home players led by Ahmed Marjane, Faycal Serghini and Younes El Hassani, all of Morocco, and Peter Badawy of Lebanon.
Marjane, the first Arab golfer to win a MENA Golf Tour event — the 2014 Ras Al Khaimah Classic – is genuinely excited at the prospect of playing in his first Asian Tour event.
“I have heard a lot about the Asian Tour, which has produced so many world class players over the years. A good showing in the DUBAi Open will certainly be a good advertisement for not only for the MENA Golf Tour, but also for the Arab golf in general.
“We can’t wait to get started. Opportunities like this one don’t come along too often, but we are confident that we can be as competitive as anyone in the field,” said the 22-year-old from Rabat, who finished seventh on the 2014 MENA Golf Tour Order of Merit, one place behind fellow Moroccan, Serghini.
Mohamed Juma Buamaim, chairman of the MENA Golf Tour, said: “Golf’s future lies in Asia. The rising popularity of the sport in China and India, in particular, has led to the creation of many new courses and a perceptible upsurge in in-bound golf tourism
“The golf market in Asia is huge and everyone wants to be involved. We are excited to be hosting the DUBAi Open and thank the Asian Tour for extending this fantastic opportunity to the MENA Golf Tour. Their recognition of our efforts to grow golf in our region is much appreciated,” he said.
Meanwhile, James Yeomans of England and Scotland’s Daniel Kay, who finished third and fourth respectively, on the 2014 Order of Merit for Amateurs have turned professionals and will make their debut in the paid ranks at the DUBAi Open.
The MENA Golf Tour contingent for the 2014 DUBAi Open:
PROFESSIONALS: Joshua White, Luke Joy, Zane Scotland, Lee Corfield, Matt Fitzpatrick, Chris Cannon and Stuart Archibald, James Yeomans (all England), Carlos Balmaseda (Spain), Faycal Serghini, Ahmed Marjane, Younes El Hassani, Amine Joudar (all Morocco), Peter Badawy (Lebanon), Tom Buchanan, Paul Doherty and Daniel Kay (all Scotland), Tyler Hogarty (South Africa), Shaifiq Masih (Pakistan)
AMATEURS: James Allan, (England), Mehdi Saissi, Ayoub Lguirati and Karim El Hali (all Morocco).
Pic caption: Joshua White, the winner of the 2014 MENA Golf Tour Order of Merit title, with Shaikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, president of the Arab Golf Federation, Khalfan Al Kaabi, a board member of the Emirates Golf Federation, Mohamed Rashid Al Nasseri, general manager of Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club, and Mohamed Juma Buamaim, chairman of the MENA Golf Tour
