By Kent Gray
The always immaculate Els Club, Dubai has undergone even more priming and preening in readiness for the second event of the 2018 Golf Digest Middle East Amateur Golf Series on Thursday.

It’s not too late to play – AED 455 sorts your 18-hole green fee (a mid-week bargain in its own right), entry into the Stableford event (1pm shotgun) and a post-round BBQ buffet where you could walk away with some of the best prizes in amateur golf.

ENTER Thursday’s Els Club Dubai qualifier here NOW!

After the highs of the Ryder Cup (depending, of course, on your affiliation), few need an excuse for a Thursday afternoon hit. If you do, consider this:  the winners of Thursday’s event qualify for the 11th Golf Digest Middle East Classic on the Majlis course at Emirates Golf Club on Oct. 16.

And if you continue splitting the fairway, finding the greens and knocking in those crucial putts on the Majlis, you could ultimately win a Pro-Am spot at either of the European Tour’s Desert Swing events – January’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and Omega Dubai Desert Classic – or the remodelled Omega Dubai Moonlight (formerly Ladies) Classic in early May.

To get you in the mood for The Els qualifier, here’s a look at the best action from last week’s series opener at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club.

RELATED: Welgemoed closes in on ‘bucket list” European Tour Pro-Am spot after winning Saadiyat Beach qualifier

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Daood Jaffal (right), pictured with Golf Digest Middle East publisher David Burke, won division A (0-10 handicaps) at Saadiyat Beach with a very tidy 39 stableford points. His prize? An invite to the 11th Golf Digest Middle East Classic on October 16, swag from support sponsor ECCO, plus hospitality passes to January’s Desert Swing opener in Abu Dhabi. Get in! 

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We have lift off!

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Cristobal Moreno likes the look of this shot.

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Miguel Marti holds the finish on another fairway splitter.

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AutoRoute has returned as a sponsor of the 2018 Golf Digest Middle East Amateur Golf Series…and with more great lease deals.

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Another finish well held.

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The 2018 Golf Digest Middle East Amateur Golf Series is a great escape for mates.

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Successful foursome including men’s division A winner Daood Jaffal (left).

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Omar Thabit (right) finished runner-up in division A (0-10 handicaps) with 36 points and won a pair of Dubai Rugby 7s season passes for his efforts.

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Dipesh Makwana

King’s College Hospital London has proudly returned as a principal sponsor of the Golf Digest Middle East Amateur Golf Series.

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Ping Li won the ladies competition with 33 points – along with hospitality passes to January’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and entry into 11th Golf Digest Middle East Classic on Oct. 16 where a spot in the Omega Dubai Moonlight Classic Pro-Am will be on the line for the ladies.

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Eljandre Mulder, Werner Wolmarans, Golf Digest Middle East publisher David Burke and Danie Skinner strike a pose.

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Division B (11-24 handicaps) was won by Shawn Welgemoed with 35 points. You can read all about his Saadiyat success here.

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Welgemoed won division B by three points from Sami Ghandour (pictured above right) whose consolation for second place was nothing to be sneezed at – a pair of season passes for Dubai Rugby 7s!

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Nice ride!

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Miguel Marti proved a lean, mean (not really!) driving machine at Saadiyat Beach, walking off with the longest drive prize. And that prize? Omega Dubai Desert Classic season passes. Nice.

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And the nearest the pin prize went to…

…Danie Skinner who is also off to the Omega Dubai Desert Classic after knocking it close on Saadiyat’s signature 17th.

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Shot of the day from Motivate Publishing photographer Masam Ali.

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See you at The Els Club, Dubai on Thursday.

ENTER HERE! 

The post PHOTO ESSAY: Golf Digest Middle East Amateur Golf Series – Saadiyat Beach G.C. appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.