With early morning fog delaying play by 30 minutes, a decision was made to amend the format of the Challenge Match to a Texas scramble format with Team Hull going up against Team Rafa.

Team Hull, led by 3-time Ladies European Tour winner and 5-time European Solheim Cup player Charley Hull from the UK, shot an impressive 14-under par to take the win. Joining Hull was 2010 US Open Champion and 2021 European Ryder Cup vice-captain Graeme McDowell from Northern Ireland; and Asian Tour player and one of Pakistan’s leading professionals, Humza Amin.

Team Rafa, led by 2021 Spanish Open winner and 4-time DP World Tour winner Rafa Cabrera Bello from Spain, trailed by just 2 shots. Cabrera Bello’s teammates included 17-year-old amateur, Humna Amjed – one of Pakistan’s most promising female golfers; and PAK Pro Tour #2 ranked player, Ahmed Baig also from Pakistan.

Flanked by a large crowd of fans, the players made their way around Sir Nick Faldo’s latest architectural masterpiece, with fireworks coming early on in the 7,533-yard, par-72 RUMANZA course.

“We got off to a fast start with an eagle on Two. We were very fortunate to have Charley driving the ball extremely well, allowing us to go into some par-5’s with short irons. Team Rafa and his crew kept it close, and it was nice to come up the last with a 1-shot lead to see what we could do. It was a lot of fun.” commented Graeme McDowell.

 The RUMANZA Inaugural trophy made of stunning blue pottery unique to Multan was presented to the winning team by representatives from event sponsors ZAHID Mahmood (Zonal Manager at Bank Al Habib), Mohsin Ali (Regional Business Head of Bank Alfalah), Sohaib Bodla (CEO of Bodla Builders) and Iqbal Khokhar (Project Manager at HRL).

 The RUMANZA Golf & Country Club, developed by the DHA Multan, marks Sir Nick Faldo’s first venture in South Asia and the most ambitious course construction project in Pakistan’s history. The international players shared their thoughts on the course during a post-event press conference.

Spain’s Rafa Cabrera Bello said: “It’s a great course – everyone is very impressed. It’s fairly forgiving off the tee, but makes you think a lot on the second shot in. The greens have lots of movement. Some really deep links-style bunkers around the greens protect some hidden pins. Nick has always been a fantastic strategist and the beauty of this course is that he makes you think about every single shot you hit.”

McDowell added: “This golf course has certainly not disappointed us this week – congrats to DHA Multan and team Faldo on what they’ve produced. It’s a world-class facility – beautiful driving range, beautiful practice facility, and the golf course is fantastic.”

A key objective of the RUMANZA development is to provide the facilities and expertise required to develop and nuture local talent. Alongside the 18-hole Championship course, the RUMANZA Golf and Country Club has a double-sided driving range and a short-game practice area with putting greens, chipping greens, and eco bunkers. These state-of-the-art facilities are a first for golf in Pakistan.

Hamza Amin, one of Pakistan’s leading pro golfers with 8 pro tour wins under his belt, talked about the importance of facilities such as RUMANZA: “I’ve been a pro for 10 years, and there’s been a lot of progress in Pakistan during that time. The PAK Pro Tour now hosts 20 to 25 events each year, prize money is increasing, and the player fields are growing. Adding facilities like the RUMANZA Golf course to the existing infrastructure here in Pakistan can only add to that progression. I’m excited to see the development of the next generation of Pakistani golfers.”

McDowell added: “One of things I’ve felt this week is the passion and the intensity for wanting success in Pakistan golf. What DHA Multan has done in creating the first world-class facility here in Pakistan is that it gives these players the opportunity to play on the type of course that they can expect to see on the Tours. Having had the chance to spend time with the young talent here in Pakistan, it’s only a matter of time until these guys move to the next level.”

Charley Hull, who is the youngest ever Solheim Cup player, spoke about 17-year-old Pakistani amateur Humna Amjed’s potential: “Humna putted really well and hit some great chips. She’s a very good player and so young – there’s a lot of potential there.”

RUMANZA is located in Pakistan’s 5th largest city, Multan, famed for its rich culture, heritage, history and stature. Speaking about the warm welcome of the city, McDowell said: “As golfers we go to some beautiful places around the world, but we don’t often get the time to sample the culture. Sport is a great way to bring people to Pakistan and really show them what a country like this has to offer. We didn’t have time to sample much of Multan this weekend outside of the course, but we certainly sampled some great food and hospitality, and I can’t wait to come back.”

The RUMANZA Inaugural weekend was jam-packed with action, both on and off the golf course. Day 1, Friday 25 February, included a Gala Dinner evening complete with a fireside Q&A, a live musical performance from world-famous Pakistani singer, Atif Aslam, while awe-inspiring fireworks lit up the course.

On Day 2, Saturday 26 February, the action moved to the brand-new RUMANZA Golf Course – following a ceremonial opening tee shot by course designer and 6-time Major winner Sir Nick Faldo – a field of 60 players, split across 15 teams, took to the course for the Pro-Am competition. Sir Nick’s wife, Lady Lindsay Faldo took the win with her team of Pakistani professionals Khalid Khan and Shahid Javed Khan, and amateur player Mr. Usman Akram, carding a score of 51 points.

Saturday afternoon saw the star players take part in clinics, open to spectators, with the weekend wrapping up on Sunday 27 February with the star player Challenge Match.

RUMANZA is the centre-piece of the aspirational DHA Multan residential community which includes high-end apartments and villas, a five-star hotel, commercial retail space, multiple sports and lifestyle facilities, state-of-the-art education facilities, health care services and extensive F&B outlets. It is one of Pakistan’s most advanced residential developments.

Project Director DHA MULTAN Brigadier Shoeb Anwar Kayani, SI(M) closed the event by saying: “What a cherish-able and fantastic weekend, to officially launch the RUMANZA Signature Golf & Country Club onto the global golfing scene. The interest in the event from players, media and sponsors alike, indicates the tremendous potential of RUMANZA & DHA MULTAN project would have on Pakistan’s Economy, Sports Tourism and talent development. Welcome to a new era of Golfing Excellence here in Pakistan!”

The post Hull, McDowell partner Pakistani pro Hamza Amin to victory in RUMANZA Inaugural Challenge Match appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
MG Keyser is on the cusp of back-to-back titles but the MENA Tour’s most decorated player looms large in the rear view mirror of the history-hunting Dubai-based South African.

Fresh from victory at last week’s Dubai Creek Open, Keyser signed for his second successive 67 at the Els Club on Tuesday to move to -10 at the $30,000 Golf Citizen Classic.The 30-year-old Pretorian will start Wednesday’s final round with a two shot advantage over Welshman Toby Hunt, Pakistani Hamza Amin and, perhaps most ominously, Englishman Zane Scotland.

A back-injury has seriously curtailed Scotland’s 2017 campaign to the point where the 10-time MENA Tour winner was forced out of the Creek Open after just 27 holes. But the buzz of being in contention again certainly helped dull the pain as the tour’s first honourary (and only fully exempt) member backed up his opening 69 with a 67 Tuesday.

“I have not been playing golf for a long time due to a bad back. It’s still hurting, but it feels great just to give myself a chance this week [and] feel that buzz again of getting into contention,” said Scotland whose last MENA Tour win came at the 2016 Royal Golf Mohammed Open in Morocco.

“I don’t have too high expectations heading into the final round, we’ll see how things unfold. Of course, shooting a 67 has certainly added to my confidence.”

Keyser rebounded from a bogey-bogey start with four back-nine birdies and an eagle Tuesday in his bids to emulate Scotland, the only back-to-back winner on the MENA Tour.

“I missed at least four to five mid-range birdie putts on the front nine before finally holing one on the ninth. With that putt, my putter suddenly went hot,” said Keyser who flushed a five-iron from 222 yards to within 15 feet on the 13th before holing the eagle putt.

“I am striking the ball really well and just having fun out there.  You never know what tomorrow holds but one this is certain, I will go out there and have some fun.”

Sweden’s Oscar Hertzberg produced Tuesday’s highlight by holing a three-wood shot from 296 yards on the par-5 18th at the Els for the rarest of all golfing birds, an albatross

The glorious two was set up by a 340 yard drive, is just the second double eagle in MENA Tour history (following Moroccan Channane Addelali at the 2013 Royal Golf D’Anfa) and propelled the 22-year-old into a tie for 28th on +1, nine shots behind Keyser.

Overnight leader Abhishek Jha, meanwhile, endured a miserable day, his seven-over 79 littered with eight dropped shots including a triple bogey on the par-4 10th to slide down the leaderboard into a share of 23rd on level par.

Sweden’s Henric Sturehed and Max Smith were tied for fifth on -8, one clear of the English duo of Stuart Archibald and Craig Hinton, the 2016 MENA Tour champion.

Englishmen Taylor Carter and Todd Clements led the amateur division on +1, two shots ahead of Saud Al Sharif (Saudi Arabia) and German Marcus Toennessen. UAE national team rep Khalid Yousuf carded a level-par 72 to make the cut.

The post Zane Scotland, the MENA Tour’s only back-to-back winner, surprisingly poised to prevent MG Keyser emulating his feat appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Jha produced a bogey-free, seven-under-par 65 Monday to sit at the summit of the $30,000 Golf Citizen Classic leaderboard.

The 30-year-old from the southern Indian city of Bengaluru is two shots clear of Pakistani Hamza Amin and South African MG Keyser who carried on from where he left off at the Creek after capturing his maiden MENA Tour title.

“It could have been a great one [round] but I missed a few putts coming home. That’s golf. You can’t complain after opening with a 65,” said Jha who turned professional in 2010.

“I drove the ball well all day and holed some nice putts. Making those four birdies in a row from the third kind of kick-started my round. Overall, I played a good, solid round.”

Another South African, Teagan Moore, was solo fourth after a 68 while seven players carded three-under 69s, RAK Classic winner Peter Stojanovski (Australia), reigning order-of-merit champion Craig Hinton and his English compatriots Jamie Elson and Zane Scotland among them.

The steady start will be especially heartening for Scotland after the 10-time MENA Tour winner and the circuit’s only fully exempt player was forced to withdraw from the Creek Open after just 27 holes due to an on-going back injury.

Elson led this season’s order-of-merit race into the tour’s 10-week summer break but missed the resumption at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club last week as he successfully survived the first stage of European Tour Q-School in Scotland.

The 36-year-old former European Challenge Tour winner has stolen an early march on Fredrik From at The Els after the Swede took over top spot on the OOM with his T-4 finish at the Creek.

From signed for a even par 72 Monday to share 26th place with, among others, English amateurs Todd Clements (second equal last week with Presidents Cup-bound Indian No.1 Rayhan Thomas), Michael Gilbert and Jamie Richards. Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club amateur Michael Harradine opened with a 73 but it is the German, Marcus Toennessen, who leads the amateur leaderboard after a 71.

UAE’s Ahmed Al Musharrekh, three under through 13, had his chances to hit the front page of the leaderboard but dropped a couple of shots coming home and that left him sharing 26th on level-par.

The post Indian ‘ace’ Jha two ahead at Golf Citizen Classic after opening 65 at The Els Club appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.