Bolton shot rounds of 65, 70 and a final round of four under par 66, tournament total nine under, to win by an impressive seven shots in Al Ain.

China’s Nguyen Anh Minh finished in solo second, as the trio of Teddy Hall, Daniel Tolf and Jamie Roslyn Camero finished in a tie for third overall at level par.

Hall battled through a playoff to also claim the Male 18 and Under Division title as Jamie Roslyn Camero was the highest placed Female in the 21 and Under Division while Mahreen Bhatia took the 16 and Under Female Division.

Sir Nick Faldo, Jamie Roslyn Camero and Robert Fiala Operations and Marketing Manager Emirates Golf Federation – Faldo Series

Sir Nick Faldo, tournament host commented on the week: “It’s great to be back in the UAE at Al Ain Equestrian Shooting & Golf Club for the 27th edition of the Faldo Junior Tour Europe Grand Final.

“The quality of golf is improving each year and we are proud of all our players’ achievements both previous qualifiers as well as this year’s class of 2023.

“It is particularly rewarding to see the local UAE participation against a high quality international field as the Arab world is now becoming an important golf development region,” added Faldo, a six-time Major winner.

Images: Faldo Series

The post Back-nine blitz for Ben Bolton in Faldo Junior Tour Grand Final appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

While the two other par 5s at AESGC offer birdie opportunities, the 10th, in stark contrast, more than lives up to its billing as stroke index 1. Even more skilled golfers will gladly take a par here and run to the 11th. From the hole’s length, to the various bunkers in play from the tee, to second shots and regulation approaches that must avoid the large lake guarding the front and the right side of the green, there is no let-up when you arrive at the hole we dub “the Beast in the East”.

Tee shot: Finding the fairway is the first challenge as any drive finishing in the rough, or even worse, the sandy waste area, will put you on the back foot for the rest of the hole. The landing area is relatively generous but as you approach 300 yards off the tee it starts to narrow so big hitters need to keep that in mind. The right of the fairway will lead to a better angle for your second shot; anything left will prove more difficult.

Second shot: If the fairway has been found off the tee, the next task is to move your second shot down the hole as far as possible. The two strategically placed fairway bunkers will be in your mind and both need to be avoided if you want a chance of hitting the green in regulation. Hugging the left side of the fairway is the prudent play as anything right will leave you a long carry over the water.

Approach: Even after two good blows you are going to have a mid-iron into the green. Hopefully, you are on the left side of the hole to make your line to the green a safer one that doesn’t require a carry over the lake. Anything coming up short or right is going to see you reaching into your bag for another ball. Missing in
the greenside bunker is not the worse play.

Finishing off: The green is generous in size and slopes steeply from back to front. If you find yourself just off the putting surface short of the green, be positive chipping into the up slope. Conversely, if you end up over the green don’t get caught out by the speed of the green when chipping or pitching from the back, as your ball can easily run further than you had imagined.

Once on the green, you still need to keep your concentration as the subtle breaks can lead to three putts. For a long putt, concentrate on lagging it close and avoiding a card wrecker. Par here is more than acceptable. – with Kent Gray

BE AT 1 SERIES:
Tame ‘Sea View’, stroke index 1 at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club
Tame the 15th, stroke index 1, at The Els Club Dubai
Tame the 5th, stroke index 1, at Tower Links Golf Club
Tame the 15th, stroke index 1, at Yas Links Abu Dhabi
Tame the 7th, stroke index 1, at Dubai Hills Golf Club
Tame the 12th, stroke index 1, at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club
Tame the 13th, stroke index 1, at Al Zorah Golf Club
Tame the 5th, stroke index 1, at Abu Dhabi Golf Club

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By Kent Gray
After shutting down the professional game globally almost overnight, the coronavirus pandemic is now starting to impact golf at the club level across the UAE.

The Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) on Monday announced the postponement of its season-ending EGF Order of Merit (OOM) Championship at Al AIn Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club next month. The 54-hole event, which carries official World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points, was scheduled for April 9-11 and the EGF hope it can be rescheduled later this year.

RELATED: Can You Play Golf Amid Coronavirus Concerns? With Proper Precautions, Yes

The EGF has also advised clubs, on the directive of the UAE’s General Authority of Sports, to postpone the remaining regular-season EGF OOM events; ladies tournaments at The Els Club Dubai (March 20) and Jumeirah Golf Estates (March 21) have postponement notices on the EGF website already while men’s opens at Yas Links Abu Dhabi (March 20-21) and Al Ain are likely to follow suit. With the General Authority of Sports prohibiting golf for under 18s UAE wide, the Dubai Creek Junior Open on March 27 has also been postponed indefinitely.

Club events and casual rounds for golfers over 18 continue but Golf Digest Middle East has learned clubs have been tasked with regular sterilising of carts, locker rooms, wellness areas and sporting/gym equipment. Given the global move towards social distancing, more restrictions seem inevitable.

The EGF decision comes hot on the heels of the postponement of this week’s scheduled Aramco Saudi Ladies International due to the temporary ban on international flights into the Kingdom. As early as March 5, the Middle East’s tightening travel restrictions prompted the MENA Tour to delay the second half of the regional men’s Pro-Am development circuit until Sept.-Dec. 

Due to the ongoing CoVid 19 precautionary measures the EGF Order of Merit Championship scheduled for 9th-11th April has been postponed until further notice. pic.twitter.com/hNQnv7AZez

— Emirates Golf Fed. (@EGFuaegolf) March 16, 2020

The EGF is working in tandem with the General Authority of Sports as the UAE ramps up efforts to halt the spread of COVID-19.

“It’s always a tough decision to postpone an event and especially an event that gives players of all ages and genders the opportunity to collect World Amatur Golf Ranking points and showcase their achievements throughout the golf season,” the EGF said in a statement.

“With the ongoing precautionary measures for the CoVid-19 virus, we feel that it is best to postpone the event for all players health and safety. We hope that in due time, things will get back to normal and we can finish the 2019 – 2020 golf season on a positive note.”

This is a breaking story. More to follow…

The post EGF Championship postponed as COVID-19 pandemic begins impacting Middle East club scene appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The 15-year-old MENA Tour regular is one of 70 players from 18 countries set to contest the 54-hole decider, one of junior golf’s most coveted events which is again being personally hosted by six-time major champion Sir Nick Faldo.

RELATED: Gupta’s Faldo Series triumph shows he’s far from the third Musketeer

Gupta qualified for finale after clinching the Faldo Series Middle East title in style, negotiating the same but then windswept Abu Dhabi layout in three-under-par in late March to win the under-16 title by nine shots from fellow Claude Harmon 3 Performance Golf Academy star Toby Bishop and the overall title by two shots from Ziang Xu, the under-18 division champion.

Arjun Gupta

Gupta is flanked by Matthew Faldo and AESGC club captain Anton Van Schalkwyk after winning the Faldo Series Middle East title in March to qualify for this week’s Europe Grand Final.

Since the European Series opened at Al Ain in March, more than 2,000 players have competed across 20 qualifying events around the world. Five respective age group and gender category winners will be crowned on Thursday and Faldo won’t be surprised if a new star or two are unearthed at Al Ain.

Rory McIlroy, European Tour stars Jordan Smith and Eddie Pepperell and Ladies European Tour and LPGA Tour player Melissa Reid are former Faldo Series graduates in a series designed to aid the development of the world’s best juniors through elite competition and grow the game by staging events in less-established golfing nations.

“I’ve kept a close eye on scoring this year, and from some of the numbers posted in qualifying, I think we may have one of the most talented classes yet. I’m looking forward to meeting the competitors and welcoming them to Al Ain,” the 62-year-old Englishman said.

Gupta is in the final threesome out in Tuesday’s opening round at 10.55 am UAE time.

Also in the field are Taiwanese junior Chang Hsin Chiao, who will be aiming to follow her Asia victory with another at the Europe Grand Final. Pavol Mach, winner of the Slovakia Championship at Black Stork Golf Resort which celebrated its 10th Faldo Series anniversary this year, will also compete at Al Ain, alongside Jordan Duminy, this year’s newly crowned South Africa Champion and upcoming Junior Presidents Cup player.

The Faldo Series, in its 23rd year overall and boast 40 events in more than 30 countries, also celebrated 10-year anniversaries in Germany and Czech Republic this year.

Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club takes centre stage for Faldo Series Europe Grand Final

“The Faldo Series dates back to 1996, the year of my sixth and final major,” said Faldo. “That summer, I unveiled a new concept designed to give talented juniors more chances to play in elite competitions, and I’m so proud of how it’s grown to become one of the stand-out events for junior golfers.

“We set out to create an event that all juniors would want, and aspire, to play. One that could prove to be an important role in their development, along with sharpening up their competitive mindset and preparing them for the future challenges they might face in trying to make it in professional golf.

“I think we’re well on our way to achieving our goals with the Series and in the last 23 years we’ve seen some truly great players come through the ranks.”

The post Dubai teen Arjun Gupta big local hope as Al Ain hosts Faldo Series Europe finale appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Trump Dubai member David Baldwin starred in combination with home-club player Leighton Johnson to capture the Emirates Golf Federation Summer Pairs Open title at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club.

The duo combined for an impressive 46 points in the betterball stableford format used for the first round of the 36 hole event. Baldwin then contributed 41 points and Johnson 31 in the second round, combined individual stableford for a combined total of 120 points.

Baldwin and Johnson eventually won by nine points from UAE national team member Saif Thabet and Sara Engsig. Thabet produced one of the highlights of the tournament, navigating AESGC in one over 71 in the second round for 36 points. Engsig was nearly as impressive, signing for 34 points.

David Kerr and Baz Pickles finished third on 109 points ahead of Paul Spinks and Craig Hanson (107 points) and Theuns Webb and Chris Bentley (103 points).

A total of 58 players – 29 teams – contested the two-day event sponsored by Golf Superstore.

The post Trump Dubai’s Baldwin partners Johnson to EGF Summer Pairs title at AESGC appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The 14-year-old Englishman came within a whisker of the Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club course record as a 62 saw him stretch a two-stroke overnight lead into an emphatic six shot defence of his Faldo Series Middle East Championship title on Thursday.

Related: Justin Parsons rates Hill and the other leading lights from Al Ain

Hill won the U-16 crown by four strokes last March and was even more impressive in his defence as a bogey-free eight under loop threatened the 61 carded by Brazilian Herik Machado at the Faldo Series’ European Grand Final at Al Ain before Christmas.

It saw Hill finish an astonishing -14 for the 54 hole event and lead a Jumeirah Golf Estates sweep of the U-16 and overall podium with Arjun Gupta (India) and Toby Bishop (Wales) sharing second on -8 after closing rounds of 66. The trio’s Butch Harmon School of Golf Dubai pal Krishiv Tekchandani rounded out the top four on -1 after recovering from a three-over opening round 73 with back-to-back 68s.

There was further joy in the Gupta family with Arjun’s sister Natalii roaring to victory in the girls division with a stunning closing round of 66 to pip England’s Billie-Jo Smith by a shot.

But the spotlight was justifiably on Hill who came into the week on the back of a runner-up finish at the Faldo Series Asian Grand Final and three successive Emirates Golf Federation Open Men’s wins at JGE, Abu Dhabi and Trump Dubai, the latter sealed with a course record 65. But that, it turns out, is only half the story.

“It’s been good, I’ve won six of the last seven tournaments I’ve played,” Hill said matter-of-factly.

“I went to the Asian final, that was a great experience, a great course [the Faldo designed-Laguna Lang Co in Vietnam], so I want to get back there, hopefully qualify for that one again.”

Hill will get that chance in November when AESGC again hosts the Faldo Series Europe Grand Final, from which the winners will return to Vietnam.

“I played solid [all week],” he continued. “I played well today obviously but I didn’t hit my driver great but when I was out of position I got back into position and managed to make up and downs so my short game was on point.”

Also on point this week has been the friendly rivalry with Gupta and Bishop with whom Hill played the final 36 holes.

“Yeah, they really good friends. It was fun playing with them and it was fun seeing them playing well as well. Good fun.”

For a clear illustration of just how well Hill and his JGE mates played, know that Denmark’s Mikkel Mathieson was fifth overall and that was good enough to win the U-18 division by six strokes over Italian Sasha Sparacino.

India’s Arkesh Bhatia closed with an impressive 67 to win the U-21 men’s title with a +4 aggregate, 13 strokes ahead of UAE national team player Abdullah Al Qubaisi who slipped with a Wednesday 76.

Even Sir Nick Faldo, the six-time major champion, was impressed by Hill.

“My thanks to Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club on another successful Middle East Championship in Al Ain. Congratulations to all the winners and in particular Josh who is on an incredible run of form of late winning all over the UAE.

“Having played the course myself I know first hand how great the conditioning of the course is and such an experience AESGC has to offer. It was great to have such an international field for the event with 19 nationalities represented, such a global reach is something the Faldo Series is very proud to have. I look forward to meeting the winners in November at AESGC personally, our new European Grand Final home.”

The post Josh Hill flirts with Al Ain course record, settles for 62 to waltz Faldo Series event by six shots appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
What does a golfer desire for his 14th birthday? For Josh Hill, it’s clearly a fast start to the defence of his Faldo Series Middle East Championship title.

The Dubai-based Englishman gifted himself exactly that with a one-under 69 as the 22nd season of Sir Nick Faldo’s global junior series opened at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club on Tuesday. Hill shares the overall lead with Mikkel Mathieson (Denmark) and is a shot ahead of Dubai-based Indian Arjun Gupta and Toby Bishop (Wales) in the U-16 division heading into the second round of the 54-hole event on Wednesday.

Mathieson enjoys a five stroke advantage over England’s Jay Mullane and Kenyan Bradley Mogire in the U-18s category while Emirati Abdullah Al Qubaisi shares the lead in the U-21s race with India’s Arkesh Bhatia after a four-over 74. Gupta and Bishop were the only other players in the 54-strong field to equal or better AEGSC’s par of 70 on a tough day for scoring.

Hill entered the week in impressive form. The +3 handicapper fired an historic 65 at Trump International Golf Club Dubai en-route to a third straight Emirates Golf Federation open men’s title in late Feb. and then finished runner-up in the U-16 division at the 12th Faldo Series Asia Grand Final in Vietnam earlier this month.

Related: Josh Hill, just 13, fires Trump course record en-route to third successive EGF title

He qualified for the Asian finale at the Faldo-designed Laguna Lang Co. courtesy of winning the U-16 Middle East and then European Grand Final Faldo titles, both also at AESGC, last year.

Kellie Gachaga (Kenya) and England’s Billie-Jo Smith, meanwhile, lead the U-21 girls event at Al Ain after 74s while Sukura Kawakami’s 72 gives the Japanese player a one shot advantage over South Korean Hyeonji Kang heading into the second round of the U-16 girls division.

Faldo created the series (open to players aged 12 to 21) in 1996 to pay back to a sport that has given him so much by nurturing the next generation of champions. It has grown to 40 tournaments in 30-plus countries. Past winners include Major champions Rory McIlroy and Yani Tseng, plus tour winners Nick Dougherty, Oliver Fisher, Marc Warren, John Parry, Rashid Khan, Melissa Reid, Florentyna Parker and Carly Booth.

Faldo recently confirmed the series’ European Grand Final will be hosted by AESGC until 2021.

The Middle East is the epicenter of the @EuropeanTour and now junior golf with @NickFaldo006 confirming @aesgc as the host venue of the @FaldoSeries European Grand Final till 2021. Congrats to @GChappellPGA @tompro66 and all the Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club team. ? https://t.co/72eDrulQLO

— Golf Digest ME (@GolfDigestME) March 20, 2018

Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club (AESGC) @aesgc will host the Faldo Series Europe Grand Final for the next four years, Sir Nick Faldo has announced. https://t.co/vXKHrOU1Q8 @NickFaldo006

— Faldo Series (@FaldoSeries) March 20, 2018

The post Hill celebrates 14th birthday in style at Faldo Series opener in Al Ain appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club head pro half-pie expects to wake up from this “surreal” dream but it’s real and it’s “crazy” cool. Buchanan really did qualify for the Desert Swing opener via a reinstated UAE PGA qualifier at Saadiyat Beach G.C. before Christmas and he really will tee it up in the $3 million event Thursday in the company of England’s Paul Waring and Ricardo Gouevia of Portugal.

Related: Buchanan on qualifying for Abu Dhabi’s European Tour stop: ‘It’s just bonkers’

“It’s just mental, crazy, still crazy,” said the Scotsman who celebrated his 38th birthday on Tuesday and is sure to have vocal local galleries in tow when he sets off from the 1st tee at 12.55pm.

“I’ve really enjoyed it, just being about everything. I managed to get myself in the group photo which is a keepsake for life and the nine holes with Stevie on Monday was amazing. I don’t know if it’s not hit me yet that I’m actually in the tournament but I’ve somehow managed to keep myself reality calm. Hopefully that continues throughout the week.”

Buchanan is fourth from right in the fourth row in his keepsake “Class of 2018” pic.

Gallacher offered invaluable strategic insight, particularly when to attack the scoreable par 5s and when to favour a more conservative approach. Buchanan has used a few solo circuits to sure up his wedge work around the greens and putting on them in anticipation of keeping his rounds going.

“The rough is pretty juicy so if you miss the fairway you pretty much have to lay up because you can’t get enough club on the ball. So I’ve been working on lay ups, feeling comfortable hitting those par saver shots.”

Making the cut is the goal and Buchanan knows he’s capable despite the heady company he’s keeping this week.

“I was talking to [Dubai-based coach to the stars] Justin Parsons and he said the only person stopping me from shooting 70 is me.,no body else. There’s no referee saying I can’t shoot 70. Those words hit me. If I go out and play like I know I can, who knows what’s in store for me.

“I’ve been hitting it well in practice, hitting the driver well so the chance of being here over the weekend is actually possible if I can just stay in control of myself.”

Buchanan knows he’ll probably have to play “33 holes of the best golf of my life” to make the weekend but can’t lose either way.

“It’s just surreal, those names around me in the locker room, but they’re all human. Everyone has been very good, very nice and helped me stay pretty relaxed. If I do make the cut, then great. If not, it will still be an unbelievable experience.”

Photo: Masam Ali (Motivate)

The post Al Ain club pro Tom Buchanan living the dream at Desert Swing opener appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The 21-year-old Al Zorah pro looped the testing The Track, Meydan Golf in two-under 70 on Sunday to back up his win in the season-opening Yas Links Pro-Am.

Related: Wears-Taylor wins Yas Links Pro-Am to pick up where he left off last season

Wears-Taylor finished four strokes clear of host-club pro Alex Nicholson and the in-form duo of Ryan Smith (The Address Montgomerie, Dubai) and Michael Bolt (Trump International G.C., Dubai).

The win sees Wear-Taylor atop the OOM standings with 661.60 points, 155.8 points clear of Bolt who secured his second UAE PGA title at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club a fortnight ago after beating Smith in a playoff after both had posted 68s.

Great to be out on the @alzorahgolfclub fairways again! @taylormadegolf #golfislife #taylormade #whywelovethisgame @beautifulgolfcourses

A post shared by Stefan Wears-Taylor (@stefwt1) on Sep 10, 2017 at 8:06pm PDT

The OOM top 5 after the Track is: Wears-Taylor (661.60 pts), Bolt (505.80 pts), Smith (413.10 pts), newly appointed UAE PGA CEO Luke Plumb (Trump Dubai/377.50 pts) and Mikael Gartner (CV Sports Group/343 pts).

After a short break with the industry focused on the European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates, the UAE PGA Tour resumes at Arabian Ranches on Nov. 27. There are also events scheduled for Trump Dubai (Dec. 4) and Saadiyat Beach (Dec. 12).

The post Wears-Taylor waltzes away with second UAE PGA Tour title of the season at The Track appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The UAE club announced it had won the right to host the 21st Faldo Series Grand Final from November 27-29 on Twitter via club professional Tom Buchanan.

Fantastic news for all here @aesgc we can’t wait to host the grand final. @EGFuaegolf @WorldwideGolf @GolfDigestME https://t.co/A1ige7HHuX

— Tom Buchanan (@tompro66) August 17, 2017

It followed a similar tweet from the Faldo Series PR team:

The 21st Faldo Series Grand Final will take place at @aesgc in UAE on November 27-29 https://t.co/oidD0YcSkf … @NickFaldo006

— Faldo Series (@FaldoSeries) August 17, 2017

More than 70 juniors from Europe, the Middle East and South America, plus five winners from the 2017 Faldo Series Asia Grand Final, will contest the three day tournament at AEGSC, 90 minutes east of the UAE capital Abu Dhabi.

The event will carry World Amateur Golf Ranking status and Faldo will invite the champion in each age-category (three boys and two girls) to compete in the 2018 Asia Grand Final at his Faldo Design course in Vietnam, Laguna Lang Co, in March. The six-time major champion will also arrange for the overall male and female champion to play in a professional tour event.

‘I’m absolutely delighted the Faldo Series Grand Final will be hosted at Al Ain.,” Faldo said in a statement.

“Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club have proved to be terrific hosts of the Faldo Series Middle East Championship in the past five years with the players enjoying both the hospitality and golf immensely. The Series continues to kick on after 21 years and we expect the Grand Final to be the highest quality yet.

“The region is vital to growing golf globally and I’m certain the Grand Final will be a huge success.”

Faldo created the Faldo Series (open to players aged 12 to 21) in 1996 to pay back to a sport that has given him so much and  help identify and nurture the next generation of champions. The series has grown to 40 tournaments in 30-plus countries.

Past winners include Major champions Rory McIlroy and Yani Tseng, plus tour winners Nick Dougherty, Oliver Fisher, Marc Warren, John Parry, Rashid Khan, Melissa Reid, Florentyna Parker and Carly Booth.

AESGC Chairman and Executive Council Member, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is understandably thrilled by Faldo’s decision to bring the final to Al Ain.

“As the Chairman of the club it is my great pride that Faldo Series Grand Final will form part of AESGC’s milestone. May this competition develop friendship among participants as each strives towards excellence as a golfer and may your passion for golf kindle our younger generation’s desire to engage in sports,” he said.

Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club has undertaken major redevelopment with the redesign of its front nine.

AESGC has undergone a major reconstruction in the past year with the front nine redesigned and modernised.

In a statement, AESGC said it had “placed junior golf at the heart of its vision with spectacular practice facilities and Academy course for all standards”.

It has hosted the Middle East leg of the Faldo Series for five years.

Josh Hill played some terrific golf to win the Faldo Series Middle East Championship by 4 shots @aesgc https://t.co/rntA3PDeln @NickFaldo006

— Faldo Series (@FaldoSeries) March 31, 2017

Shots from the final rd of the 2017 @FaldoSeries Middle East Championship supported by EGF at @aesgc Congrats to the winners! @GChappellPGA pic.twitter.com/ersnvw0fv0

— Emirates Golf Fed. (@EGFuaegolf) March 31, 2017

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