Egypt Archives - Golf Digest Middle East

Ogletree claims first pro title at International Series Egypt

Matt Smith — Sun, 13 Nov 2022 15:15:05 +0000

By GolfDigestMe.com
Andy Ogletree played in the maiden LIV Golf event in London, and may have just played his way back into the reckoning for the 2023 schedule of the new circuit thanks to securing his first title in the professional game after winning the $1.5 million International Series Egypt at Madinaty Golf Club in Cairo.

The former amateur star fired a final round eight-under-par 62 to finish with a tournament total of 23-under and win by four shots from fellow LIV Golfer Bernd Wiesberger, who returned a 63.

Korean Jeunghun Wang and Sihwan Kim (guess where he also plays) from the United States tied for third, seven behind the winner. The result saw Sihwan return to the top of the Asian Tour Order of Merit list.

“This is amazing, just incredible,” said the rising star from Little Rock, Mississippi, who earned a cheque for $270,000.

“I have always been a huge fan of match play and that is kind of what it came to in the end, it was basically a two-man race. I just tried to keep matching what he was doing, I kept making a lot of putts. Fortunately, I was able to play better than Bernd, he’s a great player and it was really awesome to come out on top.”

The 24-year-old, who played on the golf team at the prestigious Georgia Tech University, won the US Amateur in 2019 and was part of the victorious American team at the Walker Cup the same year. He turned professional the following year and is a rookie on the Asian Tour this season.

Ogletree added: “It has been an awesome week. First time in Egypt. I got to experience everything the tourists do, I went to the Pyramids, we stayed at a great hotel and the golf course was spectacular. It has just been a really awesome. My first trip to Egypt is one that I will never forget.”

Wiesberger was attempting to win his third Asian Tour title and first in nine years but found Ogletree just too good.

“Yeah, I mean I take that [shooting a 63] going into Sunday in the last group,” said the 37-year-old, an eight-time winner on the DP World Tour. “You know, it wasn’t good enough to throw everything at him. A couple of loose bogeys but other than that I did as much as I could. He holed a lot of putts when I was in position to do so. He had it going on the greens today so fair play to him. I played a good round and can be proud of myself.

“It was nice, good to stay competitive, good feeling, good golf course and tried to hit a lot of good shots. Coming in with a nice result is always a bonus as well.”

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Confident Lee on a mission at International Series Egypt as LIV Golfers lurk

Golf Digest Middle East — Fri, 11 Nov 2022 12:25:35 +0000

By GolfDigestME.com
Canadian Richard T Lee looks like a man on a mission at this week’s International Series Egypt after he moved into the clubhouse lead on day two, bidding to make amends for letting victory slip from his grasp last Sunday.

He shot a five-under-par 65 at Madinaty Golf Club to move to 11-under for the $1.5 million event to lead by one from American one-time LIV Golfer Andy Ogletree, who carded a 64.

Another LIV star, American Sihwan Kim, is a shot further back following a 66 — in a ground-breaking tournament that marks the first time the Asian Tour has visited Egypt. Bernd Wiesberger, yet another ‘LIV-er’, is T6 on seven-under.

Overnight leader Scott Hend from Australia had a disappointing day shooting a 74 to sit seven of the pace.

In-form Lee was on course to win last week’s International Series Morocco but made a costly bogey on the penultimate hole while Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond stormed through to win at the death with an eagle, birdie finish.

However, the loss has clearly done nothing to his confidence: he birdied six of the last seven holes on the front nine to go 10 under on the front nine for the first two days. He nearly aced the par-three eighth where his tee shot hit the edge of the cup before he tapped in for a two

“I feel like it is more comfortable to my eyes on the front nine, the back nine is a bit harder for me, I feel like I can’t putt as well as the front nine, yesterday and today,” said Lee.

“My game is solid right now, mentally I am also feeling confident. We still have 36 holes out there. I just want to play my game, I don’t want to think I have got to beat this person, or that person.

“I am just going to play my game, play my front nine again, and try and shoot five or six under par again. I just want to get this win first and see where it goes from there.”

Andy Ogletree. Asian Tour

Ogletree, the US Amateur champion in 2019, is a rookie on the Asian Tour this year and is putting together his best performance this year after competing on LIV Golf in London.

“You got to take advantage of playing in the morning out here, there’s not much wind, and I got off to a good start, four under through nine,” said 24-year-old Ogletree. “Had a lot of opportunities coming down the stretch it could have been a lot better, but very pleased with how I’m playing and should be in good position going into the weekend.”

Sihwan, the No. 2 ranked Asian Tour player this year with two wins, holed a 30 footer on the par-four 18th for a his third eagle of the week to go with the two he made on the front nine yesterday.

“Not the best off the tee but got it around and played really well on the front nine, my back nine,” said Kim.

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‘International Series Egypt is evidence of country’s sporting credentials’

Golf Digest Middle East — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 15:18:59 +0000

By GolfDigestME.com
The International Series Egypt is compelling evidence of the country’s ability to host world-class sporting events, and firm proof of the evolution of the region’s best golfing talent, according to the organisers behind the Asian Tour’s flagship event.

The event marks the Tour’s first ever visit to Egypt, a week after its hugely successful debut visit to Morocco. Twenty Arabic players from nine different countries are in the field at this week’s event, a major proof point for the Asian Tour’s new international brief, and a clear indication of the support it provides to enable the growth of golf in the region.

Cho Minn Thant, CEO and Commissioner of the Asian Tour, said: “From our perspective, this week in Egypt and last week in Morocco are both a fitting example of how we are growing into a truly international tour.

“Many people may have considered the Asian Tour to be a tour for Asian players, but what we have demonstrated is the international perspective, both in terms of players in the field and the destinations themselves. We could not have had a better two weeks.

“We are growing into a destination tour, we have had two excellent weeks and what we are experiencing in Egypt is truly spectacular — from the airport to the new capital, seeing all the developments and the ancient history of the pyramids, and the facilities at the Madinaty Golf Club — it has been a wonderful experience for the players and the tour.

“Never in our wildest dreams would we have expected the Asian Tour to be playing golf at the foot of the pyramids, but it is a reality and a wonderful experience for all involved.”

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Lee raring to go once again for Asian Tour International Series Egypt

Matt Smith — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 04:20:45 +0000

American Sihwan Kim, Canada’s Richard T Lee, local golfing star Issa Abou El Ela and Jeunghun Wang of Korea visited the iconic and world-famous Giza Pyramids in Cairo ahead of the International Series Egypt. Asian Tour

By GolfDigestME.com
There was no hiding Richard T Lee’s look of disappointment at the moment after he let victory narrowly slip from his grasp last Sunday but a trip to the Pyramids on Tuesday morning ahead of this week’s International Series Egypt, at Madinaty Golf Club in Cairo, has certainly helped to put a smile on his face.

“Egypt has been on my wish list since high school, I just wanted to come here and check out the Pyramids. It was amazing just to see it, right there in front of my eyes,” said the Canadian, who visited the iconic and world-famous Giza Pyramids in Cairo with American Sihwan Kim, Korean Jeunghun Wang, and local player Isaa Abuo El Ela.

Lee was on the brink of winning the International Series Morocco two days ago but made a costly bogey on the driveable par-four 17th and lost by a shot to Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond — who finished sensationally with an eagle and a birdie.

Added Lee: “To be honest I got a bit unlucky on 17 as my second shot was blocked. I pulled my tee shot slightly and it ended right behind a tree so I could only advance it forward a little bit.”

He was attempting to claim his third title on the Asian Tour, to add to his wins in the Solaire Open in 2014 and the 2017 Shinhan Donghae Open.

Nevertheless, it’s has been a big season for the 32-year-old so far as he also finished joint-second in the International Series Singapore in August.

“I just want to take the good things from there [Morocco] and have a good week this week and play my best,” he said.

“I am just going to play my game; I feel my game is pretty solid right now; I am playing smart golf. Hopefully I can get that win.”

Last year he was dogged by injuries to his shoulder and knee, which he feels might have been the result of COVID-19 treatment.

He said: “I am not completely sure what caused the injuries, I think it could have been something to do with the vaccines. I didn’t have any injuries playing golf, it’s just that all of a sudden they came.

“I have been eating well and doing a lot of work outs. It’s getting better, my body is getting back into shape.”

Rising Spanish star David Puig competes this week having also come close to winning in Morocco — which was his first event on the Asian Tour and second as a professional.

He led by two at the start of the final round before finishing in solo possession of third, two back from Jazz.

“Obviously, leading going into the final round my main goal was to win, but at the end of the day it’s golf,” said the 20-year-old, who opted to not complete his final year on the Arizona State University golf team in order to play for pay.

He added: “I think I was pretty steady the whole day, I played pretty good. I just didn’t hit the ball as close as I would like, but I hit it very good and didn’t putt my best as well. But I hung in there and I had a chance until the last hole so as I said overall I’m pretty happy with my result.

“As I said last week I don’t like tight courses, but my driving accuracy as well as my driving distance was pretty good during the whole week. So not seeing trees and instead seeing big fairways, it’s gonna be good because you’re more relaxed sometimes. But at the same time, at the end of the day, it’s just golf. You just gotta try to make birdies.”

His fine performance allowed him to secure his Asian Tour card for next season.

This week’s tournament marks the first time the Asian Tour has visited Egypt. The $1.5 million event is the third from last event of the season with just the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Bangladesh Open and Indonesian Masters, which is part of the International Series, remaining.

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Asian Tour adds International Series events at Morocco and Egypt following Ok’s success in Korea

Matt Smith — Sun, 21 Aug 2022 10:29:26 +0000

By Matt Smith
The Asian Tour has announced it is expanding its International Series with two more tournaments added to the 2022 schedule in Morocco and Egypt.

The Tour will first travel to the International Series Morocco, to be played at Royal Golf Dar Essalam, in Rabat, from November 3-6, before going on to the International Series Egypt the following week, at Madinaty Golf Club, in Cairo, from November 10-13.

Both events will boast prize money of US$1.5 million and play a key role in determining the Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, as well as the International Series money list winner.

The Asian Tour season is due to be completed in the month of December with several additional events to be announced in due course.

“This has been an unprecedented season and we are delighted to be able to announce exciting news about the Asian Tour’s first visit to North Africa,” said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner and CEO, Asian Tour.

“The International Series Morocco and International Series Egypt are two spectacular additions to our schedule that will provide our members with a unique opportunity to compete somewhere new while allowing the Tour to

“We are honoured to be working alongside the Federation Royale Marocaine de Golf in adding this new event in Morocco, which has illustrious golfing heritage, as well as breaking new ground in Egypt beside the Egyptian Golf Federation. Outside of golf, these two destinations are undeniably high up on anyone’s travel bucket list with their storied past and spectacular historical sites.”

The International Series was launched earlier this year thanks to a landmark partnership between the Asian Tour and LIV Golf to invigorate the game in Asia and the Middle East.

“LIV Golf’s investment in The Asian Tour through The International Series is already delivering new opportunities for golfers from all over the world. These events are enhancing the player experience, creating pathways for career development and reinforcing golf’s growth on a global scale,” said Greg Norman, LIV Golf CEO and Commissioner. “This series of events has received tremendous feedback and it continues to build exciting momentum for our sport’s future.”

This week home star Taehoon Ok holed a clutch five-foot birdie putt on the last to beat compatriot Bio Kim by one at the International Series Korea, at Lotte Skyhill Country Club Jeju, which comes a week after Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong was triumphant in the International Series Singapore at Tanah Merah Country Club.

The International Series Thailand kicked off the series in March and was won by American Sihwan Kim at Black Mountain Golf Club. Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent claimed the International Series England in June at Slaley Hall – an event that marked the Tour’s first-ever tournament in the UK.

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QUICKSHOT: NEWGIZA Golf Club

Kent Gray — Thu, 30 May 2019 06:25:11 +0000

Photo by Kevin Murray Photography/LOBB + PARTNERS

If you like your golf with dramatic views, check out the very last Thomson Perrett & Lobb design which has just opened on the outskirts of Cairo

By Kent Gray
Even the royal and ancient game sometimes have to bow to seniority. Or in the case of Egypt’s newest course, tip its cap to the splendour of the Great Pyramids of Giza. Just 6km from the ring road surrounding the Egyptian capital Cairo, the golf course at NEWGIZA is the centrepiece of a 680-hectare development that includes upscale housing, a sports arena, hotels, schools and majestic views across the Pyramids 8km away. Nearly 15 years in the making since its conception in 2005, it is the final project of Thomson Perrett & Lobb, the firm founded by the late, five-times Open champion Peter Thomson. The championship-length course is characterised by often dramatic changes in elevation, water hazards and huge undulating greens. There is no rough with landscaped sandy waste areas lining the fairways. The only way to lose a ball is in lakes although the huge greens provide a constant challenge with significant movement on every surface. You’ll struggle to concentrate on your green reading with all that history in the distance mind you, most notably from what is sure to become NEWGIZA’s signature hole, the par-3 4th, pictured above.

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