By Kent Gray
Spaniard Lucas Vacarisas claimed medallist honours at the first of the MENA Tour’s two 2019 Q-Schools in Aqaba but left the real final round drama to those fighting for their cards near the foot of the leaderboard.

After opening the 54-hole event with a course record of 65 on Wednesday, Vacarisas slipped into a share of second place following a second round 74 at Ayla Golf Club. But a closing 69, impressive in yesterday’s blustery conditions, saw the world No. 2004 finish at -9 and win by three from Swede Gustaf Kocken and Englishman Alastair Kinnaird.

Another Englishman, Alfredo Curbishley, matched  Vacarisas’s course record in the final round, the 65 propelling him up to a solo fourth for one of the 30 cards on offer.

There was also a three-way playoff for the final two cards between England’s Mark James, Pakistani Ahmad Baig and Swede William Nygard.

Baig birdied the first playoff hole to take his card while Nygard three-putted from 15 feet for par to give James a second chance.

Nygard’s personal horror show continued when he hit his drive left into the desert on the second playoff hole, allowing James to secure his “Journey to Jordan” playing privileges with a steady par.

“I thought after my second shot on the first playoff hole, I was finished,” James admitted.

Mark James claimed the 30th and final MENA Tour card.

“I hit a good bunker shot to give myself a chance but got lucky that William three-putted. Then I had to take my chance and I hit a good drive to put myself in position.

“I’m relieved really. I didn’t play my best this week but grinded it out. I can’t wait to get started for the year on the MENA Tour now.”

The 10-event Mena Tour proper opens with a $100,000 event back at Ayla Golf Club from Feb. 8-11 – but not before another 54-hole qualifier beginning on Sunday.

For full scores and qualifiers from the Category A qualifier, click here.

The post Spaniard tops MENA Tour’s first Q-School as Swede William Nygard cruelly misses card in playoff appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Englishman Tom Shadbolt is on course to claim medallist honours at the first of the MENA Tour’s two Q-Schools which serve as a prelude to the developmental circuit’s new ‘Journey to Jordan’.

Shadbolt backed up an opening 68 with a second round 69 at Ayla Golf Club in Aqaba on Thursday to be -7 through two-thirds of the 54-hole qualifier.

He’ll take a one-stroke lead into Friday’s final round over countryman Alastair Kinnaird (70-68) and Spaniard Lucas Vacarisas, the first round leader who has strung together scores of 65-73.

“It feels good to be leading going into the final day,” Shadbolt said.

“I didn’t play my best stuff today but don’t feel like it’s too far away. Hopefully I can build on a strong start and go on to win it tomorrow. That would be a great way to start the year.”

Four amateurs are in the top-10 heading into Friday, lead by England’s Curtis Knipes who is T-5 on -2 after rounds of 68-74.

Amateur Curtis Knipes is T-5

“I felt good today. Obviously, I’ve not been able to play a lot of golf over winter so I had a week’s practice in Dubai and it’s put me in a good position to play some good golf since I’ve arrived in Jordan,” said Knipes.

“The plan is to stay as an amateur until the end of the year and see how it goes. I’m hoping to stay in the Middle East to play all of the MENA events. I’ve been blown away by the facilities here at Ayla so looking forward to an exciting year.”

The top 42-players plus ties made the 36-hole cut which fell at +8. Among the eventual 43 players to survive were six amateurs: Knipes (-2), fellow Englishmen Jack Floydd (-1), Ben Davies (even), Alex Talbot (even) and Will Percival, as well as Lithuanian Gediminas Markevicius who like Percival squeezed in on the +8 bubble.

Only the top 30 players – both amateurs and professionals – plus ties will earn cards for the 10-event ‘Journey to Jordan” which opens with a $100,000 event back at Ayla Golf Club from Feb. 8-11 – but not before another 54 hole qualifier beginning on Sunday.

Among the 16 players to miss the cut on Thursday were former Zimbabwean World Cup cricketer Sean Irvine. The retired Hampshire county all-rounder had two rounds of 79 for a +14 aggregate to miss the chop by six strokes.

The post Shadbolt on cusp of perfect start to MENA Tour’s ‘Journey to Jordan’ appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Spaniard Lucas Vacarisas has made a fast start to the MENA Tour’s new ‘Journey to Jordan’ on a blustery opening day at the first of the revived regional developmental circuit’s two qualifying schools.

An impressive seven-under 65 at Ayla Golf Club in Aqaba has earned the world No.2004 a three-shot lead heading into Thursday’s second round of the 54-hole ‘Category A’ Q-School.

Englishman Tom Shabolt and the European Challenge Tour player’s amateur compatriot Curtis Knipes share second place overnight after 68s. Two other amateurs are on the front page of the leaderboard, England’s Jack Floydd and Lithuania’s Gediminas Markevicius both carding 70s for a share of sixth.

The leading 42 players plus ties will survive Thursday’s 36-hole cut from which the top-30 players (both professionals and amateurs) will earn cards for the 10-event season ‘Journey to Jordan’ which officially starts at Ayla Golf Club with a $US100,000, 72-hole event from Feb. 8-11.

Before then a second Q-School tournament will be held next week, also at the Aqaba resort. It’s a place every player involved will hope to become very familiar with this season; the $US100,000 Mena Tour Championship will also be hosted in Aqaba in late November.

Former Zimbabwean cricket international Sean Ervine is one of the players with work to do on the Thursday. The 36-year-old Englishman, who played at the 2003 World Cup and retired last year after 14 seasons of county cricket for Hampshire, opened with a 79 in his first pro round.

It left Irvine in a share of 52nd place in the 59-man field but only two shots outside of a big group in a tie for 43 and still very much in the hunt. Check out this video on the all-rounder’s own journey to Jordan and pro golf here: 

A bogey-free front nine out in 32 set the tone for 30-year-old Vacarisa who later responded to a bogey on 12 by closing out with birdies on 13, 15 and 17.

Shabolt was also pleased with his first day’s work.

“It was great to get back in the swing of things for 2019 and put myself in a strong position to gain my MENA Tour card. The course and facilties here at Ayla Golf Club are brilliant and I’m excited to get out there tomorrow for round two.”

The post Spaniard tops day one at MENA Tour Q-School while Hampshire cricketer Sean Irvine has work to do to survive 36-hole cut Thursday appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.