The 51-year-old Thai made it back-to-back Staysure Tour wins when he out-lasted American Clark Dennis and Australia Peter Fowler in extra time that went so long they had to switch on the floodlights at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club.

“I have never played under floodlights before so that was a new challenge for me,” said the former Asian Tour player who backed up his victory at the season-ending MBC Championship in Mauritius last December.

“Hopefully, I can kick on from here and really concentrate on the year ahead. The pin positions were really difficult today compared to the first two days so it was a real challenge out there. I had to be patient in the playoff as we were all hitting good shots every time we played the hole so I needed to keep my focus and wait for my chance. I just knew I had to get the win.

“I look forward to returning to Sharjah next year to defend my title. This is a great start to my season on the 2018 Staysure Tour.”

The team at SGSC also hope to cash in on the success of the second staging of the Staysure Tour event. Staysure Tour CEO Savid MacLaren led the praise for the $425,000 tournament that remains the only main tour event to be played on a nine-hole course. In a new development, Kiwi superintendent Marty Brown cut two different pins for the final day, offering another challenge on the Peter Harradine-designed layout presented in pristine condition.

“I didn’t think it was possible to be as excited about this year’s Sharjah Senior Golf Masters as last year but I actually was,” said MacLaren. “The reaction of everybody involved in the event, and in particularly the players, makes you realise that we’ve done something well.”

Said Staysure chairman Ryan Howsam: “What a brilliant week we have had here at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club. The condition of the course was absolutely fantastic and the players that played on it were superb.

“It was great watching the last group today; they hardly made any mistakes so it was great to see such a spectacle. I’m over the aged of 50 now so from my point of view I would love to be able to do what these players can. From a business point of view, our main focus is on the over 50s market and this is obviously an over 50s Tour so the connection between the two just makes perfect sense. This is such a great launching platform for Staysure.”

The next Staysure Tour stop is not until May but it is literally major, the KitchenAid U.S. Senior PGA Championship in Michigan from May 24-27. The next European stop is the Shipco Masters in Denmark from June 1-3.

The post Watch Wiratchant survive a four-hole playoff to claim the Staysure Tour season-opener at SGSC appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The Thai edged reigning Staysure Tour order of merit champion Clark Dennis with a tap-in par on Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club’s 18th hole at the fourth time of asking after Australian Peter Fowler had been eliminated after a bogey on the first hole of the playoff which finished under lights.

It was Wiratchant’s second successive European Seniors win after he captured the season-ending MBC Tour Championship Mauritius last December.

WINNER: Thaworn Wiratchant wins the 2018 Sharjah Senior Golf Masters presented by Shurooq with par on the fourth extra hole #SharjahSGM pic.twitter.com/w5qUYCKoW2

— Staysure Tour (@StaysureTour) March 10, 2018

Dennis and Wiratchant started the final round at -11 with a shot buffer over Fowler but could only manage 71s to the Australian’s 69.

Fowler bogeyed the penultimate hole to give up a lead he held for much of the final round and then cruelly watched a birdie attempt on the final hole for victory lip out. Dennis, meanwhile, holed a eight-footer for birdie on the 54th hole to make it a three-way playoff at -12.

Fowler’s heartache was complete as he then three-putted from 45-feet in the first hole of sudden death to be eliminated as Wiratchant coolly saved par from the left-hand trap courtesy of a nerve jangling 10-footer and Dennis two-putted for his par from the back fringe.

On their second trip down the 18th hole in overtime, Wiratchant had the best chance but a similar length putt to the one he holed at the first time of asking slide by and the par went back down the 18th for a third time, this time with the help of SGSC’s floodlights.

They traded pars again to extend the playoff to a fourth hole before Wiratchant’s par got the job done.

The post Wiratchant wins Sharjah Senior Golf Masters in dramatic playoff appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Clark Dennis has company atop the Sharjah Senior Golf Masters leaderboard in Thaworn Wiratchant while decorated Australian Peter Fowler went crazy low on Friday to cling onto their coattails heading into the final round of the Staysure Tour season-opener.

The trio are grouped together in the final threesome of what shapes as an absorbing Saturday shootout at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club. They’re off at 12.55pm with South African James Kingston, at -7 after second round 68, looking the only other player capable of challenging the frontrunners at the $425,000 event.

Wiratchant made the decisive early move on moving day, a bogey-free 65 allowing the Thai to set the early clubhouse target at -11.

Reigning Staysure Tour order of merit champion and overnight leader Dennis joined him after  overcoming a bogey start to sign for a 68 while Fowler eagled the par-5 15th (with a chip-in) for the second successive day en-route to an eight-under 64, the new SGSC course record.

Fowler is on -9 and must be ruing his double-bogey finish in an opening 71. Still, the 58-year-old has the pedigree – five Staysure Tour titles – to ensure Dennis and Wiratchant will sweat on their lead.

“I was a long way behind after some good scores this morning, and Clark was pretty hot as well. I had to put something good together today, which I did, so I’m looking forward to tomorrow,” said Fowler.

Fowler on fire.

The Australian sank this birdie putt for an eight under par round of 64 and the new course record at @SharjahGolf #SharjahSGM. He’s just two strokes behind the leaders on nine under par. pic.twitter.com/tIBXi5FZhH

— Staysure Tour (@StaysureTour) March 9, 2018

Texan Dennis, 52, won twice last season but Wiratchant won more recently at the season ending MBC Tour Championship in Mauritius last December.

“My round today was great because I seemed to have control with all my shots,” said Wiranchat afterwards.

Clark Dennis.
Photo by Phil Inglis/Getty Images.

“I love it here in Sharjah because the weather is hot like Thailand and the course is in exceptional condition. It was easier today because there was less wind and the pin position was better. I came here with no expectations so to be joint-leader going into the final round, I’m very happy.”

Wiratchant equals the course record with this birdie on the last, signing for a seven under par 65 and an 11 under par total #SharjahSGM.

The Thai leads by four strokes. pic.twitter.com/QWdp1j817x

— Staysure Tour (@StaysureTour) March 9, 2018

Dennis rattled off three birdies in his next five holes after the bogey start and then traded a bogey on the 9th with three further birdies.

“I played some good golf again today but it was definitely more of a struggle than yesterday,” said the former PGA Tour player.

“I didn’t quite have the ‘A’ game but I still managed to hit some good shots on the back nine which gave me a couple of birdies so I’m really glad that I got to 11 under par heading into the final day. Tomorrow is a new day and everyone is going to be looking for those birdies.

“I don’t think that anyone will be trying to protect anything so it should be a low scoring day. Hopefully I can come out tomorrow and execute my game plan and make a few putts.”

Spaniard Martin Miguel Angel and Englishman Philip Golding, meanwhile, complete the top five on six under par after rounds of 70 of 68.

Amateur players Steven Kelbrick and Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club’s Amir Al Naimi carded rounds of 76 and 78 respectively as they once again battled with some of the biggest names of the past. Dubai-based Brit Kelbrick goes into the final round on seven over par with Iranii Al Naimi on eight over.

Incredible diversity on the Staysure Tour. Eight players from seven countries representing six continents inside the top seven on the #SharjahSGM leaderboard.

?????????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/KcYzvhLjCx

— Staysure Tour (@StaysureTour) March 9, 2018

The post Wiratchant joins Dennis atop Sharjah leaderboard as course record 64 fires Fowler into the mix appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
The European Senior Tour might have started the new season with a fresh name, but it’s clear Clark Dennis hasn’t changed one bit.

Dennis started the new Staysure Tour season where he left off last season as order of merit champion, a sizzling 65 earning the 52-year-old Texan a sizeable lead on the opening day of the 2nd Sharjah Senior Golf Masters. The American’s bogey-free seven under loop of Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club will see him start Friday’s second round with a three shot buffer over Thai Thaworn Wiratchant, Englishman Philip Golding and Frenchman Marc Farry.

Related: Dennis a happily marked man in Sharjah

Peter Baker (England) and South African James Kingston are a further shot back after 69s.

“It’s great, I played very nicely today, didn’t make a bogey and I think I only missed one green,” Dennis said afterwards.

“It was a pretty stress-free round, I hit a lot of good shots and could have been a few lower. First group out, I was honoured to be able to hit the first shot of the new Staysure Tour, it was perfect conditions, not a breath of wind for nine holes. The greens are perfect and the course is in phenomenal condition. It was there to be had. It’s a good place to be, at the top of the leaderboard…that’s certainly my preference.”

An historic moment this morning as Clark Dennis struck the first tee shot of the Staysure Tour era #SharjahSGM pic.twitter.com/YM7F5UjHCO

— Staysure Tour (@StaysureTour) March 8, 2018

Defending champion Chris Williams (South Africa) opened with an even par 72 while Dubai-based amateur Steven Kelbrick signed for a three-over 75.

Related: Meet the Dubai amateur aiming for a play date with Tom Watson…via Sharjah

A third consecutive birdie for Clark Dennis and the American moves to five under par, one stroke ahead of Peter Fowler who eagled the 15th #SharjahSGM pic.twitter.com/kwB6hQjQn4

— Staysure Tour (@StaysureTour) March 8, 2018

The post Clark Dennis resumes where he left off last season, leads Sharjah Senior Golf Masters with a 65 appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Rewind 12 months to the eve of the inaugural Sharjah Senior Golf Masters and Chris Williams seriously doubted if he had the mental fortitude to win again. He’d recorded 39 top-10s in eight seasons on the Staysure Tour (formerly European Senior Tour) – nine of them podium finishes – and yet had only once converted for the silverware, at the 2011 Brunei Senior Masters. It got to the point where the only final round surprise was when, not if, he would stumble down the stretch.

But on Saturday at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club last March, Williams held his nerve to bury the demons as he edged Gary Marks in sudden death.

Related: Williams beats his inner demons to win inaugural Sharjah Seniors title

“Words fail me,” the now 58-year-old South African said at the time. Fast-forward 12 months and the disbelief has given way to understandable pride.

“It was a good feeling and something [extra] special to create history, winning the first European Tour-sanctioned event ever held on a nine hole golf course. It was a unique event and a completely new experience to play a Tour event on a nine-hole course, but I guess in playing nine holes twice I got to know the course a little better than an 18-hole layout. It’s always good to win a play-off too. You never know what might happen when you’re playing extra holes.”

South African Chris Williams celebrates at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club

The victory spurred Williams on to his most successful seniors circuit season since 2010 as he finished runner-up to American Clark Dennis in the Order of Merit race. He’s looking forward to refreshing old friendships in Sharjah but there is more fighting talk than a year ago.

Related: Dennis a happily marked man in Sharjah

“As Senior Tour players we get to know each other over the years, unlike the main Tours. We see each other just about every week during the season and we make friends over many years. We enjoy the atmosphere and the interaction between players and spectators but there is always a competitive edge to the tournaments.

“We are certainly out here to enjoy ourselves but we are here to win a golf tournament. That’s our focus and that’s our target. It’s an enjoyment to play well and be in contention and it’s most enjoyable to win. When I won in Sharjah last year, in a play-off with Gary Marks, it took a lot of pressure off me and gave me the impetus to have a really good season.

“I’ve been having a good time at home in South Africa over the last few months and I’ve kept fit by practicing almost every day and playing in a few Pro-Ams. I won a Pro-Am just recently so maybe that’s a good omen for me to hold on to my title and retain the Sharjah Senior Golf Masters trophy.”

The post Williams ready for Sharjah encore appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The 52-year-old Texan finished T-19 in the season opener at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club last March having qualified for the Staysure (formerly European Senior) Tour via Q-School a month earlier. But Dennis was merely warming to his task and went on to claim the John Jacobs Trophy as the tour’s money-list champion for 2017. He won twice at the rain-shortened Senior Italian Open (in a playoff from Peter Fowler) and Dutch Masters late in the season and complied a thoroughly impressive total of eight top-5 finishes in his 14 starts to bank €222,055 (AED 815,496).

“I think my goals for this year are the same – to prepare well and play every tournament like I’m trying to win. I think most guys out on Tour do that,” said Dennis who finished the season with a 70.44 stroke average. “I think the best thing I can do is to try and replicate the things I did last year. You never know if you can achieve what you want to – every year and every week is different – but I’m looking forward to it.”

Related: McGinley one of 14 Ryder Cuppers confirmed for Sharjah

Dennis bounced between the PGA and Nationwide (now Web.com) Tours for a decade from 1990 and won the Nationwide Tour’s Bakersfield Open in 1993 following a three-way playoff that included current US Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk. He counts a pair of T-3 finishes – at the 1990 Hawaiian Open and 1998 Kemper Open – as his best finishes on the main tour but his standout result was perhaps a share of 6th (with Greg Norman and Tom Watson) in the 1994 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club won by Ernie Els.

He can’t wait to return to Sharjah after his three-under effort last year.

“It was really interesting to begin the season playing a nine hole golf course and I think the Tour and the staff there did a fantastic job in setting it up for a tournament. It’s a very good golf course with some interesting holes and I think it’s a good venue,” Dennis said.

“Last year I was only in the UAE for the week of the tournament but I did manage to do my fair share of sightseeing on the days I wasn’t playing. I went and saw the Burj Khalifa and it was fascinating; really to think that the whole place was built out of nothing in the desert, it’s quite an accomplishment. It was my first ever trip out to the Middle East and thankfully it’s not my last.

“In the past few weeks I’ve played a pro-am in Mexico and I’ve been to Florida so I’ve had some warm-weather golf already this year to get some practise in. I’m going to be ready to go in Sharjah.”

The post Dennis a happily marked man heading into Sharjah Senior Masters appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The 57-year-old South African took full advantage of an early tee time in rattling off two eagles and five birdies in his pace-setting seven-under round, a stunning two-lap loop of the Peter Harradine-designed nine-holer which edged the previous record by a stroke.

Two bogeys meant Williams’ round wasn’t flawless and will see American Clark Dennis, Swede Magnus Atlevi and Dane Steen Tinning start Friday just a shot back after the trio carded matching 66s. A group of five were hot their heels at five-under-par, setting up the prospect of a thrilling contest over the weekend in Sharjah.

Welshman Stephen Dodd, a UAE regular, fired a four under 68 to lead the list of other notable first round scores. Barry Lane carded a 69 while defending order of merit and Senior Open champion Paul Broadhurst was also well in the hunt after a 70. Des Smyth has work to do after opening with a two-over 74 while Italian Costantino Rocca signed for a 75.

SEE ALSO
Rocca: European Senior Tour must ‘cultivate’ sponsors and not get greedy

Williams, who has one previous win on the European Senior Tour at the 2011 Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters, got off to the perfect start with a first hole birdie and never let up on the smooth putting surfaces.

“There wasn’t much wind out there this morning and that’s when you’ve got to post your scores because it looks like the wind blows a lot here in the afternoon,” said the former Sunshine Tour player who negotiated the four par 5s in five-under-par, including eagles on the 4th and 15th.

“I birdied the first hole and that kind of set the trend for the round. I felt more relaxed after that and the two eagles were nice bonuses.

“I sunk a long putt on the 4^th and holed out from the bunker on the 15th so you’ve got to be pleased with that! Two eagles will always get your score down no matter what else you do.”

Tinning, meanwhile, got his putter going, a solitary bogey the only blemish in a round that included seven birdies.

“I’ve got a few new things going on with my putting and they all worked very well today. I’ve been practicing hard to try to be prepared for the first tournament so this is a great way to start.

“The course is great fun to play. At times you’ve got to really be careful but at other times there are birdie chances. The greens are rolling very nicely so you’re going to get low scores when the greens are like this.”

“The course is set up for good scoring and I think spectators can expect to see some really good scores over the weekend,” he said.

The post Williams fires course record for slender Sharjah lead appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.