The MENA Tour has been great. I was encouraged by my coach Rob Watts to play. It was a bit of a risk for me because I only had enough money to play the first event and then after that I would’ve been playing on my credit overdraft. Luckily I won that first event.

It has been a difficult couple of years. My father has struggled with an alcohol addiction for many years which has progressively got worse and eventually deteriorated his health dramatically in 2019 [Langley’s father passed away late last year]. We’ve always been on a tight budget because of this and my mum has been amazing in helping support me where she can. Even though we’ve had some difficulties at home she has never once stopped me from chasing my dream and I have had the freedoms and support to travel the world and gain some great experiences.

I turned pro last September after a two-year walker cup run that I fell just short of achieving. I played two EuroPro tournaments on invite and made it to second stage of European Tour Q school. This is my first “tour” of what I consider to be my rookie season.

With everything going on right now I’m very grateful for the opportunity to compete and win the Journey to Jordan #1 Championship. Not many people this year are going to get that opportunity so I’m glad I was able to take that opportunity.

Winning has been a massive boost to my confidence and self-belief. Also, my other experiences during the first half of the tour were invaluable. I’ve learnt from my win and comparing that to some of the other mental states, what really works for me and I’ve been able to use that. I think my 29 on the back nine in Oman was proof of those things… I have learnt after that bad start to the final round I was able to drag myself into the right frame of mind to pose a challenge to the win [Langley eventually finished runner-up to countryman Bailey Gill at the Ghala Open].

I have put myself in a great position to win the overall Journey to Jordan title. Obviously we don’t know the schedule yet so we will just have to wait to know what will happen but I would love to get the chance to play those events. So far it seems that Middle Eastern golf suits my game. I hit it relatively high and spin my wedges a lot so the firm desert conditions have been good for me.

I think from a logistical standpoint, the idea of the six-week, five tournament encampment at Ayla Golf Club to finish the season makes sense. From a player point of view, it’s a little bit frustrating to have to play the same course [potentially up to eight times, not including Q-School] in tournaments but we are in unprecedented times, so I think we have to be grateful that we even have that opportunity to potentially finish our season.

You know, we’ll adapt at whatever gets thrown at us. If we play the last six weeks at Jordan, I’m okay with that. Obviously, for me I’ve got a win there so it’s definitely a course I feel comfortable on.

The COVID-19 lockdown has been difficult emotionally, I’m not going to lie. Obviously I play golf fulltime so to all of the sudden have nothing is very strange, you sort of feel like your sense of purpose has gone a little bit. I’ve been extremely bored really.

I think my DIY skills have improved a lot, doing bits and bobs and jobs around the house. I’ve been reading more books so I’ve learnt some stuff from that but other than that, I can’t say I’ve really learned any new skills. Not a whole lot really.

I have an indoor hitting bay that I’ve created in my garage because of this. I’m able to hit iron and wedges but I can’t get swings on the woods in here just because of the space available. I’ve just got a launch monitor and simulator in here so I will be able to practice with a bit more purpose. I have been hitting balls and doing drills and sending videos to my coach but there’s definitely a limited amount of productivity in here.

To be honest, I haven’t read up on it really deeply but I’ve heard the European Tour might struggle after this, I’m not too sure. I just don’t think we know so we’ve just to take everything as it comes. Hopefully, the mini-tours find the financial backing to continue because I think they’re really important pathway for us.

I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to play in the Trophée Hassan II [Langley earned the invite as the halfway leader in the Journey to Jordan OOM]. My game has proven itself across the globe and I have had great experiences from my time at Old Dominion University in USA which has set my game up to be very adaptable to many grass types and conditions. I’m hoping it gets rescheduled and my invite is valid but I’ve not heard anything yet.

I’m glad I’ve had a little time to work on my physique and get flexible again because the travelling had taken its toll a bit. But it’s not really been the rest I had already planned in terms of seeing friends and family. I’ve been at home with my Mum so that’s been good to spend more time with her but my girlfriend is from America and she was meant to be coming over for a week or so. So stuff like that has been called off, so it hasn’t been that kind of reset.

I’m itching to get back playing in the sense that I just miss the game more than anything. To be honest, I wouldn’t particularly want to compete right now because I know I would be rusty. I think the competing side almost comes second to just wanting to get out there and improve and practice and improve and play and then we can hopefully compete after that. -—with Kent Gray

The post David Langley: One Tough Rookie appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
The MENA Tour deliberately took 16 months between the end of its seventh season in late 2017 and the start of its eight edition in February 2019 to redesign the regional developmental circuit. A further refinement was the decision to condense the current 2020 schedule into essentially three months between late January and mid-April, allowing members the chance to kick-start their year in the Middle East’s best weather before spreading their wings around the world. The MENA Tour suddenly fitted perfectly into golf’s global landscape – until the world suddenly wasn’t the same courtesy of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With travel around the G.C.C becoming increasingly challenging, the MENA Tour’s leadership took the decision on March 5 to postpone the final six events of the 11-tournament season until October-November, reintroducing a mid-summer break as was previously the case. Only time will tell what professional golf, much less global sport, will look like come late 2020 and beyond but two things are certain; the MENA Tour deserves praise for acting so decisively and continues to work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure a smooth resumption when things get back to the new normal, whenever that is. In the meantime, here’s five mid-season takeaways from the 9th edition of the MENA Tour by Arena.

1) Langley leads
What’s $704 between professional golfers? For David Langley (pictured above), it’s a potentially priceless sum. The 25-year-old Englishmen went into the enforced break atop the Order of Merit (OOM) standings, edging compatriot David Hague to a start in the European Tour’s €2.5 million Trophee Hassan II as a result. At the time of press, the June 4-7 stop in Morocco wasn’t among those postponed by the European Tour meaning Langley, the 2017 Open Championship silver medallist (for low amateur honours), has a shot at quickly adding to the $25,499 he’s banked in his five MENA Tour starts this far. The Stokenchurch pro will take plenty of confidence (if not recent form) to wherever his golf travel takes him next after capturing the season-opening Journey to Jordan 1 Championship before finishing 11th and runner-up in Egypt and Oman respectively. Langley then did just enough to hold off Hague for the Morocco spot after Hague won the Royal Golf Club Bahrain Open before finishing 33rd to Langley’s 38th in the Journey to Jordan 2 Championship, the final event before the postponement. $704? A huge sum in the mini-tour scheme of things.

Bailey Gill teed it up on the European Tour courtesy of the MENA Tour. Photo by Joy Chakravarty

2) Gill (just) sneaks in
The MENA Tour’s remit is to provide fledging professionals opportunities at the next level. Unlike David Langley whose aforementioned, European Tour start in Rabat is up in the air, countryman Bailey Gill at least got to play the Oman Open before the coronavirus shut down golf worldwide, the reward for winning the MENA Tour’s Ghala Open in Oman a week earlier. Rounds of 77-70 meant the 22-year-old English lefty missed the cut at Al Mouj Golf but the big-time experience was no doubt priceless. Gill will resume the MENA Tour in 6th place on the OOM.

Arjun Gupta has ground to make up on amateur oom leader Shergo Al Kurdi. Photo by Joy Chakravarty

3) Al Kurdi has company
After Josh Hill’s breakout 2019 campaign including worldwide fame after winning the Al Ain Open, Shergo Al Kurdi has dominated amateur headlines this season. The Jordanian 16-year-old become the first amateur from the G.C.C. to earn Official World Golf Ranking points after his gusty runner-up finish to Langley at the J2J#1 Championship in late January, a huge step towards realising his 2024 Olympic Games dream. But watch for Arjun Gupta (pictured No.3) in the second half of the season. The Dubai-based Indian is second to Al Kurdi in the amateur OOM and will be buoyed by his 4th placing at the Ghala Open. Gupta’s fellow Els Club Dubai range-rat, Toby Bishop, is another cursing the coronavirus enforced pause after a rich run of domestic form. Bishop, 7th in the MENA Tour amateur OOM, signed for a course record 62 en-route to winning the EGF’s Saadiyat Beach Open before capturing The Els Alliance and then leading the Trump Dubai Open before COVID-19 trumped everything.

George Groves, the WR4GD No.1, in action at the DP World Tour Championship, where he lifted the EDGA Dubai finale trophy last November. Photo by Joy Chakravarty

4) Great determination
Sadly lost in these tumultuous times was the MENA Tour’s trailblazing agreement with the European Disabled Golf Association (EDGA). It was set to showcase four players with an official World Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD) and a handicap of 4.4 or less at the Ras Al Khaimah Open (Tower Links G.C.), the Northern Emirates Open (Al Hamra G.C.) and the Al Ain Classic. Those events were among the six postponed. Here’s hoping the EDGA players are among those on the tee when the MENA Tour resumes.

Englishman David Hague is second behind Langley in the OOM and eyeing the Arena Championship at Ayla Golf Club, the MENA Tour’s destination partner in Aqaba, Jordan. Photo by Joy Chakravarty

5) Smooth resumption
A doff of our cap to the administrators worldwide trying to piece professional golf back together again in these extremely uncertain times. The cryptic scheduling puzzle is no less challenging for the MENA Tour who had sourced a series of European, Asian, Challenge and Alps Tour starts for its best 2020 performers, invites on tours now in a state of flux themselves. Those are complications for another day though. For now, the great news is a determination to get the MENA Tour by Arena back on its feet as quickly and as safely as possible and heading towards the season-ending $100,000 Arena Championship at Ayla Golf Club, the circuit’s Aqaba destination partner. “We are in touch with the members and updating them on a regular basis. The logistics are being tied up right now. We are looking at the window of October-November. The Tour is talking to the venue partners and will release the dates as soon as possible,” the tour said in a statement. A resumption, in any shape or form, will be a grand statement of intent.

The post Officials hope to complete the disrupted 2020 MENA Tour season in October-November appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

But the second-year pro, who carded a four-under 68 at Ayla Golf Club on Tuesday for a one-shot lead after the opening round of the $75,000 event, knows his time will come as long as he’s patient. The 24-year-old Englishman, who joined the paid ranks in late 2018 after a decorated amateur career, is certainly trending towards victory. He played three Challenge Tour events in South Africa on invites before returning to the MENA Tour and made the cut in all three, highlighted by a T-7 in Cape Town that has him 13th overall on Europe’s second-tier tour.

“It would be nice to get playing status on Challenge Tour. Obviously, I want to win [as well] and getting it on the MENA Tour would be great, but these are things you cannot rush,” said Waite who will take a one-shot buffer into Tuesday’s second round over playing partner Benjamin David and Curtis Knipes (both England) and Scotland’s Ryan Lumsden.

“I look at Hague, Langley and Bailey [Gill] and they have all gone and won events in their first few weeks as a pro and here I am, have been a pro for more than a year and still haven’t got my first win.

“I can get down upon myself, or I can keep doing the right things and stay patient knowing that my week will come.”

Waite, a former European Amateur Championship runner-up and semi-finalist at The Amateur Championship, frustratingly three-putted his final hole for the only bogey in a round punctuated by five birdies.

The Bristol lad has taken a different tact this week after finished tied 37th in the Journey to Jordan #2 last year before securing his MENA Tour card by finishing 10th in Qualifying School B in January. It helped being spurred on by playing partners David and Tom Sloman who shot a two-under-par 70 to be tied fifth alongside Sweden’s Ake Nilsson. Pavan Sagoo, Jamie Rutherford, Luke Joy and Filip Lundell, winner of Q-School B at the same venue, were tied seventh at one-under-par 71.

“I have not played too well around here, so I had a slightly different mindset this week to go and shoot the best that I possibly can and I am lucky I played with good guys – David and Sloman – and they played well as well,” said Waite.

“I had a decent start today, went a bit quiet in the middle and kept playing well on the back nine. I hit two good shots into the 18th but ended up with a bogey. It’s just one of those things, and I have got to take the positives from this. I was five-under-par through 17 and shot a 68 which was a good round.”

The Felton Golf Club member has started working with Liam James in Belfry as his coach and his friend Will Donald as a mental coach.

“I have come out this year with a better mental frame and probably better technically. I did not have any status and just played on invites in 2019. But it was a slow year and I did not get going. I have worked on all departments of the game and very much looking forward to what 2020 has in store.”

In the race between David Langley and David Hague to secure the Trophee Hassan II start on the European Tour as the leader of the Journey to Jordan Order of Merit at the halfway stage of the 2020 MENA Tour season, Hague was slightly ahead of his rival, even though both players had a start to forget. Hague opened with a 75 and Langley shot 77.

India’s Arjun Gupta was the best-placed amateur in the field, tied 20th after a round of two-over 74.

The post Waite leads in Aqaba but not rushing in search of maiden pro victory appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Forget Goliath – this is a battle between David and David.

More accurately, it’s a battle within the battle at this week’s $75,000 Journey to Jordan #2 Championship back at Ayla Golf Club in Jordan, the MENA Tour by Arena’s destination partner.

The leader of the overall Order of Merit after the 54-holer in Aqaba, which marks the official halfway stage of the regional circuit’s regular season, earns a precious invite to the Trophee Hassan II from June 4-7. Furthermore, either of the Davids, Langley and Hague, will win free accommodation at the European Tour event’s official hotel in Morocco, nothing to be sneezed at when you are trying to make your way in the expensive world of professional golf.

Langley has the advantage heading into Monday’s opening round – just. The 25-year-old Marlow man leads the Journey to Jordan OOM (not to be confused with the name of this week’s tournament name) but only by $784 from Hague. Langely also has special memories of Ayla G.C. having captured the season-opening Journey to Jordan #1 Championship at the Greg Norman-designed layout.

“Absolutely. The spot in Morocco is on my mind and if someone else in my situation says they are not thinking about it, they’d probably be lying,” said Langley.

“But it is not something that is going to control my shots during the tournament. It is something you think outside of it. I will be focused on each shot that I hit when I play the tournament.

“I have very happy memories of this golf course, and obviously, having played it quite a few times, I am very familiar with it. I drove the ball very well and made almost every putt from inside 10 feet when I won the Journey to Jordan #1, and I will have to do pretty much the same again this week.”

The equation for Hague, meanwhile, is simple. With $400 assured for the last-placed player this week, the Yorkshireman will have to finish inside a two-way tie for the 12th place or better to have any chance of overtaking Langley.

David Hague.

Hague does have the advantage of momentum after winning last week’s Bahrain Open while Langley struggled with a final round 79. It was almost a case of reverse fortunes; when Langley won the season opener, Hague started his professional career with rounds of 81-77 to uncomfortably miss the cut.

“I won’t say Morocco is my top priority right now. I am pretty good at taking every competition as it comes. It’s just a consequence of playing well and that’s what I’d be focused on this week,” Hague said.

“I did not have a great start to my professional career here, but I am looking forward to competing on this course. I think I was too aggressive here the last time and threw away a few shots through careless mistakes. That’s something I want to avoid.”

Hague, who turned pro after MENA Tour by Arena Qualifying School at the same venue, has not touched his clubs after playing the Pro-Am in Bahrain a day after his victory.

“I got into Aqaba only last night after facing a few travel issues and today was the first day I actually practiced. It’s been a crazy couple of days with so many messages from friends and people I know. I am so looking forward to going back home next week, but I have a job to do before that.”

Fittingly, Langley and Hague have been paired together for the first two rounds and start their campaigns on Monday at 9.20am local time (11.20am UAE time).

The post Langley and Hague race for Trophee Hassan II start as Journey to Jordan returns to Aqaba appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Bailey Gill planned to tee it up at the $75,000 Royal Golf Club Bahrain Open next week. Instead he’ll be rubbing shoulders with the likes for former world No.1 Martin Kaymer at the European Tour’s Oman Open, an event with a cool million extra greenbacks on the line. Amazing, potentially life-changing things like that happen to good players on the MENA Tour by Arena.

The 22-year-old Englishman was trying to get his head around the sudden change of plans after capturing the $13,500 winner’s cheque at the Ghala Open on Wednesday.

The Worksop lefty birdied his last three holes and five of his last six in a bogey-free 65 to get to -15 and win by one from overnight leader and room-mate David Langley. Scot Craig Ross, who briefly owned the lead by two strokes at the turn, settled for third at -12, a shot ahead of impressive Dubai-based Indian teen Arjun Gupta who signed for a bogey-free 66 and his best MENA Tour result. Gupta played his final 36-holes in 11-under-par to seal his second amateur title on the regional development circuit after he shared that honour with pal Josh Hill at last November’s Tour Championship.

CHAMPIONS!!
England’s @baileygill1997 (16-under par) and India’s Arjun Gupta are the Professional and Amateur winners of the Ghala Open.
Gill’s reward, apart from the $13,500 cheque, is a spot in next week’s Oman Open on the @EuropeanTour. pic.twitter.com/Ko88ScAd8z

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) February 19, 2020

But this was Gill’s day, a scarcely believable pro breakthrough after he wasted a golden opportunity at the inaugural NEWGIZA Open last week.

The southpaw started the final round in Cairo just a shot out of the lead but faded to a share of 12th. They say you learn most not from your victories but your disappointments and that clearly proved the case after Gill signed for a closing two-over 74 at NEWGIZA Golf Club, the equal worst score of anyone who finished in the top 40.

“This is fantastic,” said Gill. “I have been waiting for some time now for this to happen. It did not happen in Cairo, but I am glad I could hang on and win here in Oman.

“I was disappointed last week, but I came here knowing I was playing solid. I have been playing good golf for some time now, just struggling to get everything together and I am glad I managed to do that.”

Get it done he surely did, but not without a few nerve-jangling moments down the stretch. Twice on the last two holes weak, pushed drives looked to have cost the Lindrick Golf Club member but he recovered both times with a pair of spectacular chips to tap-in range. Check them out:

With this exquisite chip to less than 2 feet, @baileygill1997 has taken a one-shot lead at -15 going into the final hole of the Ghala Open. pic.twitter.com/928YvaYwVR

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) February 19, 2020

That brilliant chip by @baileygill1997 left him with his short putt to make a birdie and edge ahead of a fast-charging @DavidLangley59 by one shot… pic.twitter.com/aMI7p7tLlh

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) February 19, 2020

“Those two were tough shots on the last two holes. I hit a horrible tee shot on the 18th hole and there was a lot of pressure when David holed his putt for a birdie on the last. David really played great despite the poor start he had, especially on that back nine.”

“I’m delighted to win the Ghala Open and I can’t wait to get going next week at the Oman Open at Al Mouj Golf. It will be my first European Tour event so I’m really looking forward to the challenge of playing with some of the best golfers in the world.

“I have only been a professional now for around five months so I’m really happy this opportunity has come to me so soon and I hope I can take advantage of it.”

Langley, seeking a second MENA Tour title inside three weeks, was left to rue a double-bogey start in a topsy-turvy closing 67. The 25-year-old Marlow rookie bounced back immediately with a birdie two but bogeyed the par-5 3rd before reaching the turn in 38 strokes, two over. He triggered a charge by driving it just short of the 375-yard par-4 10th and coolly holing the eagle putt before rattling off five birdies in his final seven holes for a homeward nine played in 29 strokes.

One of our spectators took this video of @DavidLangley59 driving to the edge of the 375-yard par-4 10th green and sinking his eagle putt to get back to even par for the round. pic.twitter.com/fxExKMJtzn

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) February 19, 2020

Sadly for Langley, the brilliant back-nine left him just shy of playoff although he does have the consolation of a near $10,000 lead over Gill in the Journey to Jordan money-race heading to Bahrain.

“I am gutted, but after that finish, if I had to lose to someone, I’d rather it be Bailey,” said the 25-year-old, also playing his first full season as a professional.

“I was rooming with him last week in Cairo and I know how upset he was after the finish there and credit to him for getting it done.

“I hit a perfect tee shot on the first and made a poor swing with my second. Obviously, the adrenaline was pumping a bit. That double affected me on the fourth hole, which is a par-5 and I could not make a birdie there. Being two-over after four on an easier stretch was not ideal, but I stayed patient and went on a roll on the back nine.

“A win here would have possibly got me two European Tour starts [Oman for winning Ghala Open and Hassan Trophee II for topping the Journey to Jordan at the halfway stage], so there was that pressure. Good to see Bailey getting the Oman spot and I am in a nice position to get into Morocco after this.”

Gupta, who turns 16 in May, showed once again why he is considered one of the brightest prospects in the region as he notched his first top-five on the MENA Tour and came to within one shot of earning his first-ever Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points.

Arjun Gupta played his final 36-holes in 11-under-par.

“I am happy with my finish. The whole week my short game and my putting was very good. I could have probably driven the ball a bit better, but I can’t complain after such a finish,” said the Dubai-born Gupta, who is coached by Jamie McConnell at the Claude Harmon III Performance Golf Academy in Dubai.

“I want to win the Amateur Journey to Jordan this year and this is a good step in that direction. I also want to win a tournament on the MENA Tour and this gives me confidence that I am close.”

Final scores from Ghana Open:

-16 – @baileygill1997
-15 – @DavidLangley59
-12 – @CraigRoss64
-11 – Arjun Gupta (Am)
-10 – @alf1e_p, @PavanSagooo, Curtis Knipes, Benjamin Jones (Am), @PaulMcBride0

Full scores here:https://t.co/970IwPtaoz pic.twitter.com/ZKEmYkFP5u

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) February 19, 2020

The post Bailey Gill wins Ghala Open as Dubai teen Arjun Gupta records best MENA Tour finish appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

A stunning seven-under-par 65 Tuesday propelled Langley to -10 through 36 holes and to the summit of the $75,000 Ghala Open leaderboard and will see the 25-year-old Englishman take a one-stroke lead into Wednesday’s final round over a gaggle of five players.

After winning the season-opening Journey to Jordan #1 Championship and backing his dream debut up with a T-8 finish at the inaugural NEWGIZA Open in Cairo last week, Langley’s impact on the regional development tour has been instant and mightily impressive. Victory in Muscat would add to the fairytale and hand the rookie Marlow professional a scarcely believable start in the European Tour’s $1.75 million Oman Open next week.

It would also give Langley a sizeable lead in the season-long Journey to Jordan race which promises precious 2021 European and Asia Tour starts to the eventual Order-of-Merit title winner.

“I feel confident. I am swinging it really well,” said Langley who leads by one from 2017 Open Championship silver medallist Alfie Plant (68), fellow Englishmen Pavan Sagoo (67), Jake Ayres (68) and Bailey Gill (67) and Scotland’s Craig Ross (67).

“I think I have gained strokes in driving every day this season on the MENA Tour and yesterday was probably the only round when I did not gain strokes in putting. I played so well in the final round in Egypt, but I guess I was trying too hard over there and shot just two-under when I had a very low one in me that day. A tied eighth finish is pretty good, but I learned a lot from that round, and from Jordan. So, hopefully, we can get the job done tomorrow.”

Let’s just say England’s @DavidLangley59 is on a roll. He won in Jordan and finished inside the top-10 in Cairo. On Tuesday, he shot a seven-under par 65 to currently lead the Ghala Open by one shot.

We asked him what was he doing particularly well to enjoy this purple patch… pic.twitter.com/eOubmltJLr

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) February 18, 2020

Starting from the 10th tee, Langley’s round was highlighted by a spectacular slam-dunk eagle when he holed a wedge from 84 yards on the par-4 11th. His only bogey came soon after on the 14th hole, but with 16 greens in regulation, he was never in any major trouble after that and also picked up shots on all four of Ghala Golf Club’s par-5s.

“It was a pretty good day. When you start with an eagle like that, it’s always good,” said Langley who improved to No. 1187 in the world rankings after his win in Jordan.

“I flew it straight into the hole and I feel sorry because I damaged the cup a bit. Made a silly error on the 14th, and missed a short birdie putt on the 17th, but apart from that, it was solid golf.”

NEWGIZA Open winner Sebastien Gros lurks dangerously after a second straight 68, leaving the Frenchman alone in eighth place at -8, while countryman and overnight leader Antoine Schwartz (71), Scot Sam Locke (70), the 2018 Open Championship low amateur, and England’s in-form David Hague (68) are three behind the leader at -7.

India’s Dubai-based Arjun Gupta is the leading amateur courtesy a splendid round five-under-par 67 that took him up to tied 16th place, two ahead of Russian 16-year-old Ivan Striganov (74).

There was also a proud moment for Saudi golf as all three players in the field – professional Othman Almulla and amateurs Saud Al Sharif and Ali Alsakha – made the cut, which fell at two-over-par.

Such an amazing moment for Saudi golf!! All three players in the field at @theMENATour’s Ghala Open – professional @o_almulla_golf and amateurs Saud Al Sharif and Ali Alsakha- have made the cut!!

Great progress and well done to @SaudiGolf! pic.twitter.com/YBC8BG071T

— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyofGolf) February 18, 2020

The post White-hot Langley eyes second MENA Tour title in three weeks appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Having qualified as an amateur, the English teen’s simmering plans to turn pro were only emboldened after rounds of 72-79 for a +9 total left him in a tie with, among others, Masters champion Adam Scott, a solitary shot shy of Phil Mickelson and a shot better than another former Open winner, Tom Lehman.

“Playing the Open Championship gave me a lot of confidence that I can compete with the best,” Knipes said ahead of the 9th MENA Tour by Arena season a fortnight ago.

Fast-forward to Wednesday at the $75,000 NEWGIZA Open on the outskirts of Cairo and Knipes continued to walk the bold talk. A second-round 68 moved the 19-year-old to -10 at the second event of the new regional development circuit season, a shot clear of countryman Bailey Gill who roared up to solo second with a fine seven-under-par 65.

After earning amateur honours in three MENA Tour events last season to finish runner-up to Dubai 15-year-old Josh Hill in the season-long Journey to Jordan, Knipes now has pole-position to seal what would be a wire-to-wire his maiden victory in just his second start as a professional.

“Tomorrow is obviously a big day for me. First time leading the MENA Tour and being in the final group of the day. I will just try and approach it as I have done every other day. I can’t control what others are doing. I am just going to go out there and shoot the lowest round that I can.”

It’s would be the stuff dreams, a priceless confidence boost worth far more than the winner’s cheque, not that Knipes would sniff at a cool $13,500. But he isn’t there yet, even if he’s recorded just one bogey in his last 36 holes and is a collective 14-under-par for his last four rounds.

Swede Niclas Weiland and Frenchman Sébastien Gros will start Thursday’s final round just two strokes adrift of Knipes and Weiland has the advantage of knowing what it takes to win on the MENA Tour after capturing the Ras Al Khaimah Open late last year.

Just four back in a gaggle of four players in a share of 6th place is Englishman David Langley who won last week’s season-opening Journey to Jordan #1 Championship. At -5, five off the lead, two-time MENA Tour winner Luke Joy can’t be discounted either.

The post Chasing maiden win in just his second pro start, Curtis Knipes leads into final round of NEWGIZA Open appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Curtis Knipes’ professional career might be in its infancy but the English teen is clearly in a hurry to get his maiden win in the paid ranks.

The 19-year-old set his stall out early, stating before the start of the 9th MENA Tour by Arena season that winning the season-long Journey to Jordan was his “main goal” as well as to “be consistent throughout the season and make some money.”

Fast-forward a week and Knipes has made good on that promise thus far. After a T-8 finish at the Journey to Jordan #1 championship in Aqaba, his professional debut, he made a blistering start to the new $75,000 NEWGIZA Open in Cairo on Tuesday, a bogey-free, six-under-par 66 earning a two-shot lead over seven players.

Indeed, taking advantage of the relatively benign morning conditions at NEWGIZA Golf Club, Knipes bolted out of the blocks with five birdies in his opening seven holes. He had to wait until the par-5 17th, where he holed a slightly fortuitous downhill, left-to-right breaker from 18-feet, to pick up another shot but it was good enough to earn the handy buffer over Scotsman Scott Henry, Englishmen Joshua McMahon, Tom Sloman, Joe Heraty and Robbie Busher, Frenchman Sébastien Gros and Swede Niclas Weiland.

“Yeah, very happy to get a bogey-free round in obviously,” said Knipes who later relayed frustration in being unable to convert good chances on the 9th, 12th and 14th, the latter when he wedged it tight and saw a short putt burn the lip of the cup.

“The nine pars after the hot start was a little bit frustrating because when you feel like you are on a roll you want to keep the momentum going.”

It’s not that Knipes is grumbling. He’s played his last three rounds in a combined 10-under-par and could have seriously challenged in Aqaba save for an opening 76. Indeed, if he’d been able to wipe four shots off that opening round to the season and sign for an even-par round, he’d have finished solo second at Ayla Golf Club.

But it’s a new week and a new venue for the MENA Tour with Egypt the 12th country to host an event on the regional development circuit as the 9th season heats up.

“The golf course, yeah, it’s a great track, I really like it. I think the layout’s really good and the set-up, it’s in really good condition, the greens are rolling nice,” said Knipes who qualified for last year’s Open Championship at Royal Portrush as an amateur.

“Conditions today, obviously this morning it was a lot calmer, there wasn’t too much wind which was nice, obviously give me the opportunity to get off to a good start and take advantage of that. It picked up a little bit towards the back nine, especially the last few holes which were playing quite hard coming back into the wind. Conditions are pretty fair out there [now] but I think we are in for a windy one tomorrow.

Knipes has one of the latter starts in Wednesday’s second round, off the 10th at 11.45am. He’ll be determined to make the most of his great start though after earning amateur honours in three events last season, twice alongside Dubai teen Josh Hill who went on to pip Knipes for the amateur Journey to Jordan OOM title.

England’s Curtis Knipes, who made headlines by qualifying for @TheOpen at @royalportrush last year, shot a six-under par 66 in the first round and is leading the NEWGIZA Open in Cairo, Egypt, by two shots.

He spoke about his bogey-free round and the golf course…@NEWGIZAegypt pic.twitter.com/XnpRnuANRW

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) February 11, 2020

Englishman David Langley, fresh from winning the season-opening Journey to Jordan #1 Championship last week, signed for a two-under 70 that could have been better save for a double-bogey seven on the 14th. Defending professional Journey to Jordan champion MG Keyser also had a 70 in his opening round of the season.

Former European Tour winners Romain Wattel and Richard Finch carded scores of 72 and one-over 73 respectively while the UAE’s only professional, Ahmed Al Musharrekh, fought back well from being two-over after six holes to finish on one-under-par 71.

Shergo Al Kurdi mixed six bogeys with two birdies in a 74 that left the Jordanian T-68 in the 85-strong field and with huge ground to make up if he is to figure anywhere near as prominently as his T-2 finish in Aqaba last week where he become the first player from the GCC to earn Official World Golf Ranking and Olympic qualifying points. The English-domiciled teen at least has the consolation of a share of the amateur lead in Egypt alongside Saudi Arabia’s Ali Alsakha.

The post Rookie English pro Curtis Knipes fires 66 for first round lead in Egypt appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

After a closing, six-under-par 66 at Ayla Golf Club took him to 11-under 205 and a four-shot win in the season-opening Journey to Jordan #1 Championship, Langley paid tribute to the “rock” back in England that had helped him keep it all together, on and off the course.

“This is dedicated to my mum, who has been like a rock even though we have gone through some very tough times as a family over the past two years, and all my coaches,” said the former England amateur representative from Castle Royle Golf Club.

Journey to Jordan #1 champion @DavidLangley59
speaks why this win is so special following the difficult times his family had to go through the last couple of years and his father’s death last December.@arenamiddleeast @AylaOasis pic.twitter.com/Jw2mcFL8SR

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) February 5, 2020

Langley started the final day of the $75,000 event one shot ahead but left his nearest pursuers floundering with a round highlighted by five birdies and an eagle. Jordanian amateur Shergo Al Kurdi (69) and English compatriots Jamie Rutherford (65) and Tom Sloman (69) eventually settled for a share of second on 209.

Langley’s only bogey came late on the par-5 13th hole but was quickly forgotten when he holed an exquisite lob wedge on the par-5 17th for the championship defining eagle.

“I am really shell-shocked,” the 25-year-old from Marlow said after collecting $13,500 for his breakthrough win. “There wasn’t a moment on the golf course when I wasn’t nervous. I handled myself very well and was completely focused on each and every shot, but my mind was all over the place in between the shots.

“I won a couple of small events last year, but really, I haven’t won anything for the past three-and-a-half years [on the American college circuit], even though I felt I have improved a lot as a golfer over that time.”

Champion David Langley and runner-up and leading amateur, Shergo Al Kurdi, receive their trophies from Mr Sahl Dudin, MD, Ayla Oasis Development.

Al Kurdi sealed amateur honours and his best finish in 12 MENA Tour starts in what was a bitter-sweet week.

The 16-year-old co-lead after the first round, dropped four late shots in his second round and couldn’t buy a putt early in the final round. It took a bogey on the 11th to fire him up and the result was three successive birdies as he climbed back up the leaderboard.

“A three-under-par round is never bad, but it was getting frustrating out there,” the two-time Jordan Open said. “I must have missed five birdie putts from inside 5-10 feet range. But I just kept patient and my dad did a great job on the bag as he kept motivating me and giving me positive thoughts.

Shergo Al Kurdi.

“I am very proud of what I managed to achieve – runner-up and the best amateur. This is also my best finish on the MENA Tour and this gives me so much confidence for the future.

“To do it in Jordan and at Ayla Golf Club, who have been so supportive of me, makes this even more special.”

Former European Tour player Rutherford was left to rue a four-putt double bogey on the par-3 6th and a three-putt par on the par-5 17th.

“I thought I could have a chance if I reached 10-under par, and I definitely played well enough to shoot that number. The 6th hole was very deflating, but I am happy with the way I bounced back,” he said.

Sloman had 20 putts in his first nine but kept patient and made his move on the back with four birdies.

The Swedish duo of Ake Nilsson (68) and Per Langfors (70) were tied fifth at six-under par 210.

The post Langley dedicates MENA Tour breakthrough to his mum; Shergo Al Kurdi does Jordan proud appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Rookie English professional David Langley has pole-position among a gaggle of five players well-placed to mark their MENA Tour by Arena debuts with victory at the Journey to Jordan #1 Championship on Wednesday. England-domiciled Jordanian 16-year-old Shergo Al Kurdi, meanwhile, will enter the final round of the $75,000 season opener at Ayla Golf Club a little peeved he’s not in an even better position to become the regional development circuit’s third-youngest winner.

A battling 68 on Tuesday moved Langley to -5 for the championship. The Marlow 25-year-old will carry a one shot lead into the final round in Aqaba from four other debutants: Scot Ryan Lumsden (65), Swedes Per Langfors (69) and Calle Strandberg (68) and England’s Tom Sloman (67).

First-round co-leader Al Kurdi is also at -1 but was left rueing a second round 70 that could have been so much better. When the teen eagled Ayla’s 1st hole, his 10th after starting on the 10th, he was at six-under for the day, at eight-under for the championship and seemingly set to open up a big lead atop the leaderboard.

But the two-time Jordan Open winner and Ayla G.C.-attached teen gave back four shots over his closing six holes to fall back into the chasing pack.

“That finish hurt,” said Al Kurdi, who was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel disorder, six months ago.

Shergo Al Kurdi

“I was six-under-par through 10, and that [included] a three-putt bogey. It was a flying start, but I lost a bit of my energy and I did not putt well enough.

“No excuses though…at least I managed to hold it together and give myself a chance tomorrow. The birdies were coming along easily early in the round and I was calm and patient. And then I started trying a bit too hard after making a double bogey on the fourth hole. I think that would be the key for tomorrow, trying not to force the issue.”

Langley, likewise, won’t be forcing the final round despite his shot at an instant breakthrough.

“I am not going to approach tomorrow any differently. As I said, I had a few close misses the last two days, so I am probably in the better side of some luck coming my way. I feel very comfortable on this golf course, so we will see,” Langley said.

Lumsden, an alumnus of Northwestern University in Chicago who qualified for the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock, shot the best round of the championship Tuesday to roar into contention. The seven-under 65 was motivated by a terrible finish to the opening round when the 22-year-old Scotsman went from one- through 16 holes to three over via a triple bogey-bogey finish in the tough conditions.

Ryan Lumsden

“The finish yesterday really frustrated me, but it also fired me up to come out and play well today. I was very happy with the way I played. I was pretty good with my wedges and hit a few to tap-in distances,” said Lumsden.

Italian veteran Alessandro Tadini (68) and Welsh youngster Gaelen Trew (70) were tied for seventh place at two-under-par. Overnight joint leader, Scotland’s Sam Locke (73), slipped to tied ninth place at one-under-par alongside England’s Joshua Grenville-Wood (69) and Pavan Sagoo (71).

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