By Kent Gray
DUBAI, UAE – With Josh Hill studying for his GCSE exams and MG Keyser taking a well-earned rest from his ever hectic schedule, the new MENA Tour by Arena season will open in Aqaba on Monday minus last year’s standard-bearers.

The $75,000 Journey to Jordan 1 Championship will also be without its defending champion, Matthew Baldwin, with the Englishman playing the European Challenge Tour’s new Cape Town Open.

It gives the 87-strong field a grand chance to steal a march on three of last season’s main headliners at Ayla Golf Club this week.

The professionals will need to make the most of it with 2019 Journey to Jordan Order-of-Merit (OOM) champion Keyser set to return at next week’s NEWGIZA Open, the regional circuit’s newest venue on the outskirts of Cairo. The South African has committed to play the remaining nine events following Egypt and will do so buoyed by a T-66 finish and €6031 payday at last month’s brutal OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic.

RELATED: MG Keyser happy to continue winging his golf career

Hill, 16 next month, is also a tentative starter in Cairo. If the reigning amateur OOM champion doesn’t open his season there, he will definitely play at the Ghala Open from Feb. 17-19 and will undoubtedly be better for his appearances in last month’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and Desert Classic.

RELATED: Prodigy Power – The driver swing that helped Josh Hill wow the golf world

Australian Daniel Gaunt, second in last season’s professional standings, and Tour Championship winner Harry Konig are among the big pro names in Aqaba. Like Keyser, both earned starts in the Desert Classic but failed to make the weekend on a testing Majlis layout, Gaunt signing for scores of 78-72 and Englishman Konig a pair of 80s.

https://t.co/XpMvDvTUrG @gofundme

— Daniel Gaunt (@Gauntgolf) January 30, 2020

Fresh from celebrating his 25th birthday on Sunday, Konig is raring for the new season, buoyed by his Desert Classic debut despite missing the cut.

“It was the best moment of my life, without a shadow of doubt,” he said.

“I would have liked to score much better…I am disappointed, but I am not going to worry about that too much. I prepared really well for that week and I felt comfortable the whole week, but it was a very tough set-up.

“The good thing is that because of the Desert Classic, I have spent a lot of time over the Christmas and New Year practicing. I think it is only going to help me play better this season.”

Konig has pedigree on Ayla too after winning the Tour Championship there last November to book his place in the Desert Classic.

“It is very special to come back to this place. The win last year was life-changing for me. I have been in Aqaba for the past four days and played nine holes every day, and I have tried to recreate all the pivotal moments from last year, like the pin location on the 18th hole on Sunday and trying to hit shots there,” said Konig.

“My expectations have definitely changed after last year. It’s more knowing in your own head that you can get over the line. I am now going to play to win, rather than just being there.”

Also playing for the $13,500 winners cheque at Ayla is England’s Curtis Knipes who recently turned pro after being one of the most consistent amateurs on tour last year. It capped a big year in which the 19-year-old also qualified for the Open Championship at Royal Portrush.

Curtis Knipes

“I’m very excited about this new chapter in my life,” said Knipes. “Obviously, made this decision to turn pro a couple of months ago. I was edging towards it last year, but given the opportunities I have, not only on the MENA Tour but other Tours as well, I think this is the right time.

“I would have been fairly up there on the MENA Tour Order of Merit if I were a pro last year, and then playing the Open Championship gave me a lot of confidence that I can compete with the best.

“It would be nice to win the Journey to Jordan this year and get one of those spots at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. That’s the main goal, but I also want to be consistent throughout the season and make some money.”

While Swedish amateur Filip Lundell, who won a playoff to win medallist honours at the MENA Tour’s ‘Q-School B’ last week, isn’t playing the season opener proper, stage A winner Miguel Jimenez Jr, the son of European Tour legend Miguel Angel Jimenez, will be another name to watch.

Among the five amateurs set to tee it up in the 54-hole event are Hill’s best pals Arjun Gupta and Toby Bishop who were third and fourth in the amateur OOM last season. Jordanian amateur Shergo Al Kurdi has been given the honour of hitting the first shot of the 9th MENA Tour season at 7.30am on Monday.

We caught up with the Dubai-based amateurs Toby Bishop and Arjun Gupta as they start their 2020 MENA Tour season at Ayla Golf Club.

They spoke on learnings from the 2019 season, their hopes from 2020, and the motivation from their best friend Josh Hill’s amazing debut year… pic.twitter.com/nltD4GQLYn

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) February 2, 2020

The post With big names missing, Konig and co. keen to make a fast start to the new MENA Tour season appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Exactly three years to the day after turning professional, Konig came from nowhere to capture the MENA Tour by Arena’s season-ending Journey to Jordan Tour Championship on Thursday.

Konig had birdied five of the last six holes in a second-round 65 and very nearly repeated the dose in his closing 69, four birdies in his last five holes taking him from out of contention to -11, 205 and eventually sealing a one-shot victory over the English trio of Joshua Grenville-Wood, Todd Clements, Jamie Rutherford and 2017 Tour Championship winner Henric Sturehed (Sweden).

Konig’s first win as a professional has seen him earn a start at the $750,000 Indonesian Masters on the Asian Tour next month for winning the season decider. He also gets a spot in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic for finishing second in the ‘Final Five’ Order of Merit. Overall Journey to Jordan winner Keyser won the mini money list for the last five tournaments of the season but the overall season title had already landed him a Desert Classic start, meaning an unbelievable bonus on an unbelievable anniversary for Konig.

“It’s quite a coincidence that I played my first tournament as a professional on 28th November 2016, in Spain on the Gecko Tour,” Konig said.

“it’s been three very difficult years. Professional golf is hard. I had spoken to my parents and was planning to give up playing competitive golf next year. And then this happens. I think I will continue playing.”

After struggling in the pro ranks for three years, @HarryKonig1 was on the verge of giving up competition golf.

And then, he won the Journey To Jordan Tour Championship!!@arenagroup_plc @AylaOasis @TGP_Dubai pic.twitter.com/kUAVjPZ2ak

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) November 28, 2019

Thursday’s dramatic final round It was particularly galling for Grenville-Wood who looked all set to secure his first professional win as he reached the par-5 17th hole at 12-under only to finish bogey-bogey, including a missed par putt from less than three feet on the last to force a play-off.

Konig, meanwhile, saved the best of his storming finish to last, flushing a brilliant four-iron shot from 193 yards to less than a foot for the all-important birdie on the into the wind 18th.

Champion Harry Konig receives his trophy from Mr Sahl Dudin (left), Managing Director, Ayla Oasia and Chris White, General Manager, Ayla Oasis.

“I just can’t believe it. It’s an experience that I have never felt before, so I am lost for words. I was never in touch of winning and then I had that finish,” said Konig, who dedicated the win to his late friend Charlie Watson, who passed away two years ago.

“I was playing so bad. And like yesterday, I just told myself to start playing aggressive again and start going for the flags.”

On the day of his greatest triumph, @HarryKonig1 did not forget his best friend. The Devon golfer dedicated his Journey To Jordan Tour Championship win to Charlie Watson, who passed away two years ago.@arenagroup_plc @AylaOasis @TGP_Dubai pic.twitter.com/Xnu9LjtDHH

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) November 28, 2019

Cant believe it. Thanks for all the messages! Excited to tee it up in my first European Tour event in Dubai in January ? https://t.co/HIr0dDa2l7

— Harry Konig (@HarryKonig1) November 28, 2019

The post Close to quitting, Konig now has chance to reinvigorate career with dream Asian and European Tour starts appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Konig rattled off four birdies in his last five holes for a closing 69 to set the clubhouse target at Ayla Golf Club at -11, 205. Grenville-Wood, who like Konig had started the final round of the season a shot adrift of Hill, lead on -12, had the chance to win with a birdie on his 54th hole or force a playoff with a par but will rue a bogey-bogey finish in end in a four-way tie for second alongside fellow Englishman Todd Clements, Jamie Rutherford and 2017 Tour Championship winner Henric Sturehed (Sweden).

Our champion!! @HarryKonig1 is a bit emotional after winning the Journey To Jordan Tour Championship. He birdied four of last five holes to win on -11. pic.twitter.com/K5zrihLuk7

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) November 28, 2019

Hill, meanwhile, stumbled to a closing 76 to finish T-9 on -5, alongside among others, fellow Dubai-based amateur Arjun Gupta.

The overnight leader’s shot at yet more MENA Tour history went south early, a double bogey on the 8th contributing to a four-over outward nine played in 40 strokes. The consolation for the 15-year-old Ain Ain Open champion was his top-10 saw him just sneak above Curtis Knipes to win the amateur Journey to Jordan order of merit title and a start in January’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

Dubai-born 15-year-old Josh Hill is our Amateur Journey To Jordan champion! He will be making a dream start at the 2020 @OMEGAGolfDubai Desert Classic. pic.twitter.com/km3OdgksCa

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) November 28, 2019

Like Hill, MG Keyser won’t be thrilled with his closing 79 but still easily secured the professional Journey to Jordan title and European Tour starts in Dubai and Denmark next year, plus an invite to the Diamond Cup, an event co-sanctioned by the Japan Golf Tour and Asian Tour.

South Africa’s @KeyserMG is our Professional Journey to Jordan champion. Well done Chief!! pic.twitter.com/i0rNzXXYO5

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) November 28, 2019

It was Konig’s first MENA Tour victory and is set to see his current Official World Ranking (OWGR) on 2061 soar. He had given little hint of contending in Ayla after missing the cut at the tour’s penultimate event at Tower Links and placing a lowly 53rd at Al AIn where Hill set the new mark as the youngest winner of an OWGR event at 15 years, six months and 27 days old.

But Konig found something in Aqaba, compiling rounds of 71-65-69 to secure the biggest win of his career. His closing round included an eagle on the 9th when he holed out his third shot on the par 5 amid what could have been a title ending run that read bogey, double bogey, bogey, eagle, bogey from the 6th to the 10th. But he bounced back with birdies at the 11th and 14th before sealing the deal with three successive birdies to finish.

The post Konig wins Tour Championship; Keyser and Hill qualify for Desert Classic as Journey to Jordan champions appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The 15-year-old Dubai-based England Boys’ representative will take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the season on Thursday at deceptively picturesque Ayla Golf Club in Aqaba.

With a three-under second round 69, Hill emerged from a three-way tie atop the leaderboard following his opening 66 to lead alone by a stroke through 36-holes from a trio of English professionals, Harry Konig (65), Jamie Rutherford (67) and Joshua Grenville-Wood (70), and Swede Gabriel Axell (70).

For context, all four professionals are looking for their first win on the MENA Tour.

Hill now has a shot at becoming the first amateur with two MENA Tour by Arena wins after famously capturing the Al Ain Open to become the youngest player, at 15 years, six months and 27 days old, to win an Official World Golf Ranking-sanctioned event last month.

Hill believes his win in Al Ain Open, even though he started the final day three shots behind the leader, will help him as he dons the role of a front-runner.

“It will be a different challenge and I think what would definitely help is if I get off to a good start like I did in Al Ain,” said Hill. “But that win proved to me that I have what it takes to win a tournament at this level and that would be a good, positive thought in my mind.”

Hill holds a six-stroke lead over Claude Harmon 3 Performance Golf Academy pal Arjun Gupta on the amateur leaderboard after Gupta ascended five places up to T-16 with a solid second round 70. Perhaps more importantly, Hill leads countryman and current amateur Journey to Jordan order of merit leader Curtis Knipes by a mammoth 18-strokes after Knipes slipped to 58th position after an 80 on Wednesday. Knipes’ round included a catastrophic 12 on the par-5 9th and was followed by a double bogey on the next hole. Given their respective positions at opposite ends of the leaderboard, Hill is now projected to win the overall amateur title and earn a start in January’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

South Africa’s MG Keyser, the professional Journey to Jordan leader, was at four-under 140 after a 71. However, with his nearest challengers, Australia’s Daniel Gaunt (73) and England’s James Allan (72), not making any significant inroads, Keyser looks on course to win the season title and starts in the  Desert Classic and Made in Denmark.

Hill got off to a hot start and was four-under through seven and managed to make enough birdies to offset a bumpy back nine.

“I was doing everything so well for the first seven holes and then made a stupid bogey on the ninth,’ said Hill, who made seven birdies and ended with a bogey on 18th.

“Struggled a bit after that but delighted to finish at three-under on a tough day. I made a three-putt bogey on the 12th hole, but apart from that, I putted really well today and that really saved the day.”

Konig said he was ‘plodding’ along and making some good up-and-downs until he decided to get aggressive on the back nine. The move paid rich dividends as he finished with five birdies in his last six holes for the low round of the day.

“I missed making a birdie on the par-5 17th hole, where I missed a putt from five feet. That was slightly disappointing, but I did make a birdie on the 18th which was playing very tough in this wind. I think it is the first time I have made a birdie on that hole,” said Konig.

The 27-year-old Rutherford came to Jordan having missed getting into the final stage of the European Tour Qualifying School by just one shot.

“I did not putt well at all that day in Spain and it was very disappointing. I went back home and mostly did putting for two weeks before coming here. In a sense, it is good that I had this tournament to play and an opportunity to bounce right back,” said Rutherford.

Axell, who lost in a play-off at the Ras Al Khaimah Open by Arena, will try and make amends in Thursday’s final round.

“It’s never good to finish with a bogey, but it wasn’t easy out there. However, I am playing some good golf and there is no reason why I should not finish one better than what I did at Ras Al Khaimah,” said Axell, who made three birdies in a row before making the turn.

Grenville-Wood, who finished second in Bahrain earlier this year, said: “It was a grind out there, especially on the back nine. I am pretty pleased with the way I kept it going and kept hitting steady shots. I made a pretty good par on the 18th. So, one shot back, I will take it.”

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