The 24-year-old from Southampton played five events in the 2019 season and was inside the top-12 in all of them including back-to-back second-place finishes in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. He missed the first three tournaments of 2020 because he was playing the Challenge Tour events in South Africa, where he finished tied fourth in the RAM Cape Town Open.

“It’s pretty amazing what happens when you have a bit of confidence in the system,” said Ellis, winner of the 2017 Amateur Championship and the 2012 England Amateur.

“I feel a lot calmer and I feel in pretty sound place mentally. I am able to hit the shots I want to on the golf course. My team and I have put in a lot of hard work and we know it will take some time, but we have built a solid foundation. I am in a good golf-playing mode, which is nice not having to work on too many things. It’s a case of putting the rounds together and the results will come hopefully.”

Ellis played the Royal Golf Club Bahrain Open last year and was tied seventh. Interestingly, his 73 in the second round was the last time he was over-par on the MENA Tour and his last 10 rounds have all been in the 60s.

“It would be lovely to keep the streak going, but it is not something I am thinking too much about. Obviously, it is always healthy for your position on the leaderboard, or your psychic, if you keep shooting in the 60s,” said Ellis.

“This week, the course is set up so well that it is possible, but I am just trying to go out and be the best that I can be. We will see what happens, but I’d definitely like to be in contention.”

Ellis will have plenty of competition, with the current Journey to Jordan leader David Langley in great form after winning in Jordan and finishing second last week in Ghala. Also returning to the MENA Tour this week is the former European Tour player Jamie Rutherford, who took a two-week break after his scorching finish at Ayla Golf Club, where he finished runner-up to Langley.

“I went back home for a couple of weeks, did some work with my coach and practiced as much as I could because the weather is so bad in England right now,” said Rutherford.

Jamie Rutherford

“It is great to come back to Royal Golf Club where I was fourth last year. I just love the challenge of this golf course. It is fairly generous off the tee, but you have got to really precise with your irons with how slopy the greens are and all the sections they can put the flag in. You’ve got to be in control of your distance and where you put your ball on the green. That, I feel, is a strength of mine.”

England’s Bailey Gill, the champion last week at the Ghala Open in Muscat, and South Africa’s MG Keyser, the reigning Journey to Jordan Professional champion, will miss the tournament but for very good reasons. Gill got into this week’s Oman Open on the European Tour, courtesy his win at Ghala, while Keyser qualified for next week’s Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, also on the European Tour, by winning the qualifiers in Doha.

Reigning champion Robin Roussell has graduated to the European Tour and will also miss the event.

The post Ellis eyes breakthrough win at Bahrain Open appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

At 15 years, six months and 27 days, Hill has eclipsed Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa for the world record. Ishikawa was 15 years and eight months old when he won the Japan Golf Tour’s Munsingwear Open KSB Cup in May 2007.

RELATED: Sir Nick Faldo, Danny Willett lead tributes as Hill announces himself to the wider golfing world

The Trump International Golf Club, Dubai member has achieved the feat in grand style too, a sensational eight-under 62 at Al Ain Equestrian Shooting and Golf Club helping him turn a three-stroke deficit into an eventual two-shot victory over overnight leader Harry Ellis (ENG).

Josh Hill is our Al Ain Open by Arena champion! He wins by two shots after a superb final round of 8-under par 62.@HarryEllisGolf is second and the leading professional at 15-under par.
Ben Schlottman and amateur Curtis Knipes are T3 at -13. pic.twitter.com/N0y3kENb6N

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) October 23, 2019

Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai holds the record as the youngest winner of a professional event. He was 14-years old when he captured the Singhua Hin Open in July 2013 but the ASEAN PGA Tour event reportedly did not have OWGR status like the MENA Tour. Khongwatmai was seven months younger than the previous record-holder, Kiwi Lydia Ko, who won the New South Wales Open on the Ladies European Tour in January 2012 at age 14.

Hill becomes the fourth amateur winner on the MENA Tour and the second in three events this season after English 18-year-old Robin ‘Tiger’ Williams won the Journey to Jordan-2 Championship at Ayla Golf Club earlier this month. Now U.S.-based Dubai amateur Rayhan Thomas was the regional Pro-Am circuit’s amateur trailblazer after capturing his home Dubai Creek Open in 2016, a season before Dutchman Pierre Junior Verlaar won the Royal Golf Mohammedia Open in Morocco.

The MENA Tour’s remit is to provide a stepping stone to the world’s main tours and it is certainly helping its young members achieve global recognition. Hill’s is not the first world record; Thomas, now playing collegiate golf at Oklahoma State Unversity, equalled the world record for successive birdies – nine – during his defence of the Dubai Creek Open in 2017.

Hill is the 867^th ranked player in the official World Amateur Golf Ranking (WARG) and No 2072 in the professional OWGR. While he isn’t eligible for the winner’s cheque of US$13,500 (Ellis pockets that), both rankings are set to soar after his memorable week at Al Ain where he carded rounds of 65-66-62 for a winning total of 193, 17-under-par.

Amazing feat by young Josh Hill!

Becomes also the 2nd youngest player to ever earn #OWGR points, behind Guan Tian Lang who did it when he was still 14. Josh is tied for 2nd place in that stat. Phachara K. also earned his first OWGR points at 15y 6m 27d!https://t.co/Q7F1mW5nOb

— Nosferatu (@VC606) October 23, 2019

He clearly has an affinity with the par 70 layout in the “Garden City” of Al Ain, a city 170km inland of Abu Dhabi but within the emirate. Hill has won both the Faldo Series Middle East Championship and is the two-time defending champion of the Al Ain Open, and Emirates Golf Federation event, at AEGSC and has now twice shot 62 on the course, the first in last year’s Faldo Series event. The 62 is one shy of the amateur record set by Brazilian Herik Machado during the 2017 Faldo Series Grand Final but eclipse the professional course record at the 6,764-yard layout, a 63 by Alex Wrigley in the Mercedes-Benz International ProAm in February 2017.

Starting the day three shots behind overnight leader Ellis, a 12-footer putt straight into the heart of the cup on the first hole kick-started the teen’s title tilt.

A lip-out on the par-3 3rd from five feet denied him a second birdie, but the Joe Marshall-coached player  went on a tear after that, making four birdies in the next four holes. He then picked up further strokes on the 9th and 11th holes to be seven-under par at that stage and three ahead of Ellis, who had made the turn at one-under par.

The final birdie of the day came on the 14th, even though he had two more chances from close range after that.

“I really don’t know what to say right now. I am shocked,” said Hill afterwards.

“If you had told me during the summer that I will be winning a MENA Tour title against professionals and become the youngest ever winner of an OWGR event, I would have laughed at the notion. I guess hard work pays.”

The win has been brewing. After a lean spell with his driver over his UK summer campaign, the youngest member of the England U-18s squad recorded a T-6 finish at the Abu Dhabi Open a fortnight ago in what had been his best finish in the MENA Tour by Arena until today.

“I was struggling in the summer and then something changed in the last MENA Tour event at Yas Links. That top-10 finish gave me a lot of confidence and I knew it in my heart that I would do well here in Al Ain because I have such a good history here. I just love this track.

“I am actually a little disappointed with my finish because I missed so many opportunities coming in. I honestly could have broken 60 today. I knew I needed a good start, and once I got it, I just kept hitting one good shot after the other.”

The post Dubai amateur Josh Hill sets world record as youngest winner of OWGR event appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

While a second successive 64 saw Englishman Harry Ellis extend his overnight lead from one stroke to two over Swede Jesper Alm, it is the performance of Issa Abou El Ela that has caught much of the attention at the Al Ain Open by Arena.

The 24-year-old Egyptian marked his opening round 66 with a hole-in-one on Al Ain Equestrian Shooting and Golf Club’s par-3 15th on Monday and went a shot lower on Tuesday to move to -9, just three strokes adrift of Ellis heading into today’s final round.

Abou El Ela found himself amid a four-way tie for the third-place alongside Sweden’s Gustav Kocken (65) and amateurs Josh Hill (66) and Curtis Knipes (64)  and in with a chance of emulating Robin ‘Tiger’ Williams who captured the autumn swing’s opening event, the Journey to Jordan #2 Championship, in his maiden MENA Tour start earlier this month.

His debut on the regional Pro-Am circuit perhaps shouldn’t come as such a great surprise given Abou El Ela’s pedigree mind you.  The Madinaty Golf Club member from Cairo is the son of Amr Abou El Ela, winner of seven Pan Arab Championships and one of the most respected names in Middle East & North African golf.

With his father watching, Abou El Ela played steady golf with six birdies and a solitary bogey.

“I played just one bad hole and I made a bogey there (on the 9th). Otherwise, it was a slightly boring round with lots of fairways and greens. I am really enjoying my first start on the MENA Tour and I am excited I have a chance tomorrow. I just want to stay positive,” he said.

After two 64s, Englishman Harry Ellis has the chance to become the MENA Tour’s 21st wire-to-wire winner on Wednesday. (Photo: Joy Chakravarty/MENA Tour)

Kicking on from his T-2 placing in Abu Dhabi a fortnight ago, Ellis again went bogey-free to move to 12-under par 128 with his two 64s. Unlike the first round where he managed a solitary birdie on the back nine, the Southampton 24-year-old made three on either half of the pa 70 layout on Tuesday.

“It was important for me to get off to a good start and carry on that momentum from yesterday, and I managed to get an early birdie on the 10th, which was playing very long and into the wind,” said Ellis, who received a message from former world No1 Justin Rose on Twitter after the round.

Brilliant first two days @HarryEllisGolf enjoy the final round tomorrow. #TeamHampshire @theMENATour https://t.co/Q9nxx2K0Yf

— Justin ROSE (@JustinRose99) October 22, 2019

Our tweet on @HarryEllisGolf leading the Al Ain Open by Arena at @aesgc was liked by @JustinRose99, who has the same management company @excelsm.

So, we asked Harry about the relationship he shares with the former world No1 and how Rose has motivated him to become better. pic.twitter.com/6pu4rLExn5

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) October 22, 2019

“I just went back yesterday and reflected the way I played the back nine and did a much better job of it today. I still left a few out there, but it was a bogey-free round. I think this may be the first time I have been bogey-free for 36 holes, so very happy with that accomplishment.”

Two straight days of 64 and two consecutive bogey-free rounds!@HarryEllisGolf leads the Al Ain Open by Arena and is delighted with the way he is playing his golf. pic.twitter.com/2R3c7vI6L8

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) October 22, 2019

Like Ellis,  Alm is also searching for a maiden title on a recognised tour. The Swede insisted he hadn’t played as well on Tuesday as he had for his matching 65 on Monday but a final-hole eagle lifted his spirits.

“I am hitting my driver great, and I hope to take advantage of that. On the par-5 18th, I just heeled it a bit, but the drive still went 330 yards and I hit a 4-iron to about 20 feet and made the putt,” said the 27-year-old who grew up at the same golf club in Sweden as his idol Henrik Stenson.

“It was a solid round, but yesterday was better. I hit my irons really well but did not make as many putts. I like the golf course, so I am really looking forward to tomorrow.”

How cool is this dude? An unabashed fan of @henrikstenson, he does not mind taking a jibe at his idol!! Well done Jesper Alm! https://t.co/oJvg89qGv7

— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyofGolf) October 22, 2019

Meanwhile, Dubai-based Hill clearly has some buttering up to do at home!

SCHOOL’S OUT!!
There is a bit of trouble brewing in the Hill household!
Josh Hill shot a 66 and is T-3 going into the final round of Al Ain Open by Arena at @aesgc.
The 15-year-old is supposed to be catching up with his school work, but he is planning to defy his parents’ orders! pic.twitter.com/lsfaAyftJN

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) October 22, 2019

The post Like father, like son as Egyptian Issa Abou El Ela gives himself a shot at a debut MENA Tour triumph appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Co-leader Harry Ellis described his bogey-free 64 as “nothing special really” while teen Josh Hill, just a shot back after the opening round of the Al Ain Open by Arena, summed up his effort as a “pretty boring round”. Such is the standard on the MENA Tour nowadays.

An eagle on the drivable par-4 4th hole propelled Ellis to his six-under score at Al Ain Equestrian Shooting and Golf Club, a score later matched by Germany’s Constantin Schwierz who mixed seven birdies and a solitary bogey in his 64.

RELATED: Zane Scotland – Mr MENA Tour record-maker turned player creator

Hill and his ‘Three Musketeers’ pal Arjun Gupta were among a group of six a shot adrift, joined by newly minted Abu Dhabi Open champion James Allan, English compatriot Jacob Oakley, American Ben Schlottman and Sweden’s Jesper Alm.

Like Allan, Ellis carried on where he left off at Abu Dhabi a fortnight ago where he finished joint runner-up with countryman Robbie Busher and Swede Niclas Weiland.

The Wentworth Club member turned five-under with the help of the early eagle. His only disappointment, perhaps prompting the “nothing special” comment is that he couldn’t kick on to an even lower score on the par-70 layout.

“The 4th hole really gave a kick start to my round. I hit a three-wood to about eight feet and made the putt. I then picked up three more birdies to go out in 30, but did not give myself too many chances on the back nine,” Ellis said.

“I added one more birdie and did not drop any shots. So, just looking now to take this momentum into tomorrow’s round. Today was solid, but nothing special really. I have been playing well these last few weeks, and when you start shooting in the 60s, it becomes a bit of a habit. I hope it can continue.”

Thank you @theMENATour @HarryEllisGolf for this. You are quite correct we are unique. Fortunate to be working at this wonderful facility @aesgc #alain #golf #equestrian #rugby #cricket #shooting #somethingforeveryone https://t.co/iflaQCWeuW

— Tom Buchanan (@tompro66) October 22, 2019

Schwierz started from the 10th tee and was three-under-par through the turn. A bogey on the second hole was his only hiccup of the day, but he finished strongly with four birdies in five holes from the 4th to the 8th.

Hill, who finished tied sixth in Abu Dhabi, is the reigning Men’s Open champion at Al Ain ESGC and he once again showed his liking for the course with a 65.

“It was a pretty boring round, especially on the back nine. I made a birdie on the par-5 10th, and then played the next seven holes to par. I just kept hitting good shots and two-putted and nothing really happened before a birdie on the 18th,” said the youngest member of England Golf’s U-18 squad.

Issa Abou El Ela, making his first start on the MENA Tour, was one of seven players tied for ninth place at 66 heading into the second round. The Egyptian’s round included an aced on the par-3 15th hole with a pitching wedge from 144 yards.

It was a first hole-in-one in any competition for the 24-year-old and 23rd in the history of the Tour and second of 2019 season following Scot Daniel Kay’s perfect shot in the opening round of the Troon Series – Royal Golf Bahrain Open.

How cool is this?!!

Egypt’s Issa About El Ela (from Madinaty GC) makes his first hole-in-one playing his first ever MENA Tour event!

Issa aced the par-3 15th at @aesgc with a pitching wedge from 144 yards.

He also shot a 66.#HarderBetterFasterStronger pic.twitter.com/3TVSw9E8uj

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) October 21, 2019

Reigning professional Journey to Jordan leader, South Africa’s MG Keyser, opened with a 67.

The second round started at 7am UAE time.

The post Dubai teens Josh Hill and Arjun Gupta just a shot back after low scoring start to Al Ain Open appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By John Huggan

For the second year in succession, a native of the English county of Hampshire is the champion. Never more than 1 up over the course of the 38 holes at Royal St. George’s it took him to defeat Australian Dylan Perry—and 4 down with five holes to play in regulation, Harry Ellis claimed the famous trophy and the coveted spot in next month’s Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

The 21-year-old, who was the youngest-ever English Amateur champion at 16 in 2012, edged out the previous record-holder (one Nick Faldo) and will also tee-up in next year’s Masters and U.S. Open, as long as he remains an amateur. In addition, he is certain to be part of the Great Britain & Ireland Walker Cup side that will take on the Americans at the Los Angeles Country Club in September.

All good. Ultimately, however, the eventual destination of the title was more the result of a Perry collapse than an Ellis revival. In the seven holes between the 32nd tee and the 38th green, the new champion made nothing more than pars as his 22-year-old opponent recorded a calamitous series of bogeys and, on what proved to be the clinching hole, a double-bogey 6.

It was, as so often is in match play, an agonizing and inexorable decline for the eventual runner-up, who earlier this year won the Riversdale Cup, one of the most prestigious amateur events in his homeland. Bunkered in two at the long 14th, famous for Dustin Johnson’s wild out-of-bounds approach during the final round of the 2011 Open Championship, Perry was unable to match Ellis’ par. One hole later, the Englishman got up-and-down for par to keep the match alive, a feat he repeated at the short 16th, where Perry missed from about seven feet for the title. Two more dropped shots from the Australian took the match into extra time. And two holes later it was over, Perry having missed the green, then compounding his error by duffing the first of the two chips he needed to board the putting surface.

With his British Amateur win, Harry Ellis is eligible to play in next month’s Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, and next year’s Masters and U.S. Open. (Photo by Harry Hubbard)

“I never gave up,” said Ellis, a soon-to-be senior at Florida State and a member of the losing European team in the recent Palmer Cup. “I never thought I was out of it. I knew how hard it would be for Dylan. He was the better player over the course of that match because he made fewer mistakes than I did. He was deservedly in front and it’s tough on him what happened over the last few holes. I felt so calm coming down the stretch, and it was only fitting to finish it off after the comeback.”

As for Perry, who was bidding to become only the third Australian after Doug Bachli and Bryden Macpherson to win the oldest amateur championship in the game, he handled what had to have been a tough defeat with a grace beyond his tender years.

“I’m pretty bummed, but at the end of the day you’ve got to take the positives out of the week,” Perry said. “I played well all day, and down the stretch that’s what pressure does to some people. It just wasn’t meant to be, but congratulations to Harry. He played well down the stretch so good on him.”

The post Harry Ellis, 4 down with five holes to play, mounts crazy comeback to win British Amateur title appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.