Max Smith Archives - Golf Digest Middle East https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/tag/max-smith/ Golf Instruction, Equipment, Courses, Travel, News Mon, 12 Dec 2022 10:38:02 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.2 https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/gd-favicon.ico Max Smith Archives - Golf Digest Middle East https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/tag/max-smith/ 32 32 Marsh chases quick Challenge Tour return while all amateur eyes on Dubai teen Hill as Ghala Open goes to the wire https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/marsh-chases-quick-challenge-tour-return-while-all-amateur-eyes-on-dubai-teen-hill-as-ghala-open-goes-to-the-wire/ https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/marsh-chases-quick-challenge-tour-return-while-all-amateur-eyes-on-dubai-teen-hill-as-ghala-open-goes-to-the-wire/#respond Wed, 27 Feb 2019 03:02:13 +0000 https://golfdigestme.com/?p=24480 Nick Marsh will be hoping for a quick, albeit it potentially temporary, return to the European Challenge Tour when he takes a two-stroke lead into the final round of the $75,000 Ghala Golf Club Open on Wednesday.

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]]> By Kent Gray
Nick Marsh will be hoping for a quick, albeit it potentially temporary, return to the European Challenge Tour when he takes a two-stroke lead into the final round of the $75,000 Ghala Golf Club Open on Wednesday.

The winner of the third of the MENA Tour’s 10 events earns an invite to the Andalucia – Costa del Sol Match Play (May 17-20) and Marsh has pole position after firing a five-under par 67 in Tuesday’s second round to move to 11-under 133.

Playing just his second MENA Tour event after losing his Challenge Tour card last season, Marsh won’t have it easy punching his ticket to the match play event in Spain however, not with compatriot Max Smith (69) and last week’s Al Zorah Open champion Daniel Gaunt (68) lurking just two back.

“I really don’t remember when was the last time I was leading going into the final round. Must be during my amateur days. But I know I just have to play good golf and take it one shot at a time,” said Marsh who won the 2014 English Amateur a and counts the 2017 Dawson and Sanderson Classic on the EuroPro Tour as his pro highlight thus far.

“I am just going to have the same game plan, same routine, same warm-up tomorrow, and let’s see where that takes us.”

Surrey-based Australian Gaunt, playing just his third competitive event since quitting golf for almost one-and-a-half years, shapes as a real threat to Marsh.

“I am playing well. Almost bogey-free again today except for a three-putt on the 8th, and if I can keep doing the same thing, we might be in with a shot tomorrow,” said Gaunt of his 68 on Tuesday. “My attitude to golf has changed. I am not thinking about technique or things like that when I am playing. I am at a stage where I don’t think about the result. I am just trying to have fun.”

After a Tuesday best 65, Scotland’s Craig Ross is four back of Marsh alongside another Scot, Jack McDonald (70), Frenchman Robin Roussel (68), Canadian Oliver Tubb (69) and England’s Todd Clements (70).

There will be just as much interest in the final round amateur battle within the battle at Ghala after Dubai-based 14-year-old Josh Hill shot a brilliant five-under par 67 on Tuesday to open up a one-stroke lead over England’s Curtis Knipes (70), the current amateur OOM leader. Saudi Arabia’s Saud Al Sharif and England’s Jack Floydd were in third place after identical rounds of 73 and 68 over the first days.

The cut fell at two-over 146 with 54 professionals and nine amateurs making it to the final round of the 54-holer.

Ghala Golf Club Open – LEADING SCORES (After round 2, par-72)
133 – Nick Marsh (ENG) 66-67
135 – Daniel Gaunt (AUS) 67-68, Max Smith (ENG) 66-69
137 – Craig Ross (SCO) 72-65, Robin Roussel (FRA) 69-68, Oliver Tubb (CAN) 68-69, Todd Clements (ENG) 67-70, Jack McDonald (SCO) 67-70
138 – Josh Hill (ENG-Am) 71-67, Oliver Jacobsson (SWE) 70-68, Leonhard Asti (AUT) 69-69, Richard Bland (ENG) 66-72
139 – Pierre Junior Verlaar (NED) 71-68, Curtis Knipes (ENG-Am) 69-70
140 – MG Keyser (RSA) 72-68, Robert Dinwiddie (ENG) 71-69, Antoine Schwartz (FRA) 68-72
141 – Saud Al Sharif (KSA-Am) 73-68, Jack Floydd (ENG-Am) 73-68, Jamie Rutherford (ENG) 71-70
142 – Maarten Bosch (NED) 73-69, Taylor Carter (ENG) 71-71, Gabriel Axell (SWE) 70-72, Jake Ayres (ENG) 71-71143 – Lindsay Renolds (CAN) 75-68, Oscar Henningsson (SWE) 74-69, Andrew Burmester (RSA) 73-70, Jose Rolz (GUA) 72-71, Sam Hobday (ENG) 72-71, Jesper Alm (SWE) 70-73, Victor Riu (FRA) 70-73, Gary Stal (FRA) 70-73, Haiko Dana (GER) 69-74, Henric Sturehed (SWE) 68-75, Daniel Owen (ENG) 68-75

 

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]]> https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/marsh-chases-quick-challenge-tour-return-while-all-amateur-eyes-on-dubai-teen-hill-as-ghala-open-goes-to-the-wire/feed/ 0 European Tour veteran Bland savours his new rookie status at age 46, co-leads latest MENA Tour stop in Oman https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/european-tour-veteran-bland-savouring-his-new-rookie-status-at-age-46-co-leads-in-oman/ https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/european-tour-veteran-bland-savouring-his-new-rookie-status-at-age-46-co-leads-in-oman/#respond Tue, 26 Feb 2019 04:37:03 +0000 https://golfdigestme.com/?p=24468 The Englishman marked his MENA Tour by Arena debut with a six-under 66 Monday to earn a share of the first round lead at the Ghala Golf Club Open alongside compatriots Max Smith and Nick Marsh, the latter in just his second our start.

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]]> By Kent Gray
The MENA Tour was conceived as a springboard to the world’s main tours for fledgling professionals, as well as amateurs who ultimately aspire to the paid ranks. At the age of 46 and with 450 European Tour starts on the clock, Richard Bland doesn’t exactly fit either bill but there’s mutual joy at his instant impact on the regional developmental circuit.

The Englishman marked his MENA Tour by Arena debut with a six-under 66 Monday to earn a share of the first round lead at the Ghala Golf Club Open alongside compatriots Max Smith and Nick Marsh, the latter in just his second our start.

After losing his European Tour card last year after 14 successive seasons as one of the tour’s most consistent – albeit title-less – players, Bland is just thankful to have somewhere to play before the second tier Challenge Tour season begins. For the MENA Tour, having someone of Bland’s ilk inside the ropes can’t help but raise standards.

“The MENA Tour have been kind enough to give me some invites and I did not have to go through the Qualifying School. It’s a great set-up and playing with a scorecard is much better than sitting back home in the rain. I am grateful to them for the opportunity,” Bland said.

“I am planning to play next week in Dubai and then Bahrain and we will see where we are after that with my schedule. I am 46 now, but I still think I can do something on the European Tour. Just because you’ve had one poor year, you don’t become a bad player overnight.

“I also have to look at the bigger picture. I am four years away from 50 and I want to stay competitive when that time comes. So, the MENA Tour is a great fit for me, especially at this time of the year when we don’t have anything to play back home and the Challenge Tour is a few weeks away.”

Bland opening round was solid, save for a stretch of three holes where his tee shots found waste areas. One of those holes – the par-4 11th – resulted in his only bogey of the day.

Photo Joy Chakravarty.
Nick Marsh

“I think 66 is a great start. I definitely felt like I left a couple out there but hopefully, 66 puts me in good position going into the last two rounds,” said Bland who has had 46 European Tour top-10s but counts the 2001 Challenge Tour Grand Final as his sole win.

Meanwhile, Australian Daniel Gaunt, who won last week’s Troon Series Al Zorah Open to soar 862 places up the OWGR to No. 1147, continued his hot streak with an opening 67. He was tied fourth starting Tuesday’s second round alongside England’s Todd Clements and Scotland’s Jack McDonald.

RELATED:  Daniel Gaunt’s MENA Tour breakthrough in Ajman serves as an inspiration to any golfer struggling with their game

England’s Curtis Knipes continued his early dominance of the amateur battle within the battle with a three-under 69. Dubai-based 14-year-old Josh Hill was the next best at one-under par 71 with India’s Arkesh Bhatia, Saudi Arabia’s Saud Al Sharif and England’s Jack Floydd on 73.

AAs well as a $13,500 cheque, the champion this week earns an invitation to the Challemge Tour’s Andalucia – Costa del Sol Match Play (May 17-20).

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LEADING 1st ROUND SCORES – (After round 1, par-72)

66 – Richard Bland (ENG), Nick Marsh (ENG), Max Smith (ENG0
67 – Daniel Gaunt (AUS), Todd Clements (ENG), Jack McDonald (SCO)
68 – Antoine Schwartz (FRA), Daniel Owen (ENG), Oliver Tubb (CAN), Henric Strehed (SWE)
69 – Curtis Knipes (ENG-Am), Joshua Greenville-Wood (ENG), Leonhard Asti (AUT), Haiko Dana (GER), Robin Roussel (FRA)
70 – Jesper Alm (SWE), Victor Riu (FRA), Gary Stal (FRA), Oliver Jacobsson (SWE), Gabriel Axell (SWE)
71 – Cyril Suk (CZE), Jake Ayres (ENG), Daniel Kay (SCO), Robert Dinwiddie (ENG), Gary Boyd (ENG), Louis Campbell (ENG), Jamie Rutherford (ENG), Pierre Junior Verlaar (NED), Daniel Scourfield (ENG), James Allan (ENG), Peter Stojanovski (MAC), Robbie Busher (ENG), Joe Heraty (ENG), Benjamin David (ENG), Conor O’Neil (SCO), Joshua White (ENG), Taylor Carter (ENG)

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]]> https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/european-tour-veteran-bland-savouring-his-new-rookie-status-at-age-46-co-leads-in-oman/feed/ 0 Thomas one back of lead pack of five heading into moving day at Al Zorah Open https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/thomas-one-back-of-lead-pack-of-five-heading-into-moving-day-at-al-zorah-open/ https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/thomas-one-back-of-lead-pack-of-five-heading-into-moving-day-at-al-zorah-open/#respond Tue, 19 Feb 2019 03:20:03 +0000 https://golfdigestme.com/?p=24347 Two pesky three putts haven’t stopped Dubai-domiciled amateur Rayhan Thomas from making a decent start to his bid for a third professional title at the Troon Series-Al Zorah Open.

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]]> Photo: Joy Chakravarty
Rayhan Thomas in action on the first day of the Troon Series-Al Zorah Open.

By Kent Gray
Two pesky three putts haven’t stopped Dubai-domiciled amateur Rayhan Thomas from making a decent start to his bid for a third professional title at the Troon Series-Al Zorah Open.

The Oklahoma State University-bound 19-year-old will start the second round of the $75,000 MENA Tour event on Tuesday just one shot off the pace after carding an opening three-under 69 Monday.

Frenchman Lionel Weber, Australian Daniel Gaunt, Scot Craig Ross, England’s Max Smith and Guatemala’s Jose Rolz co-lead after 68s on a blustery day in Ajman.

Thomas three-putted the 7th for a bogey and then three-putted again for par on the par-5 18th but was happy with his opening effort that left him in a six-way share of 6th alongside promising Pakistani star Ahmed Baig, Englishmen Benjamin David and Seve Benson, Swede Oliver Jacobsson and Dubai-based German Dominic Foos.

“It was a good round overall,” said the Dubai Creek member who created history on the MENA Tour when he became the first amateur winner at the 2016 Dubai Creek Open. He has since gone on to claim the King Hamad Trophy in Bahrain.

“I drove the ball really well, but did not have the best day on the greens.”

Thomas could have been joined on 69 by another Dubai-based teenager, 14-year-old Josh Hill, but the English youngster was docked two shots as a penalty for an inadvertent rules infraction.

Dubai-based Indian Arjun Gupta, also 14, was the second best among the amateurs with a round of two-under-par 70.

Weber, who won the 2017 Mountain Creek Open in Thailand, only arrived in Ajman late on Sunday so was essentially playing Al Zorah blind. 

Weber already has a MENA Tour title to his name.

“I arrived in Ajman late and did not even have time to play a practice round. I just thought that I should go out and enjoy myself and before I knew it, I had made four birdies in my first four holes,” said the 28-year-old, who is attached to Black Mountain course in Hua Hin, Thailand.

“I was very annoyed that I did not have a decent finish. I doubled the 16th hole and then made another bogey on the 17th. But apart from those two mistakes, I am really happy with my first day.”

Gaunt, who missed birdie putts from four feet on two par-5 holes, said: “The conditions were definitely much tougher than when I played a practice round. On one of the holes, I hit a driver and a 9-iron yesterday, and today it was a driver and a 5-iron.”

LEADING SCORES (After round 1, par-72)
68 – Lionel Weber (FRA), Craig Ross (SCO), Max Smith (ENG), Jose Rolz (GUA), Daniel Gaunt (AUS).
69 – Benjamin David (ENG), Ahmad Baig (PAK), Dominic Foos (GER), Rayhan Thomas (IND-Am), Oliver Jacobsson (SWE), Seve Benson (ENG).
70 – Jack McDonald (SCO), Joshua Grenville-Wood (ENG), MG Keyser (RSA), Arjun Gupta (IND-Am), Tom Shadbolt (ENG), Andrew Burmester (RSA), Cameron Phillips (ENG), Antoine Schwartz (FRA), Taylor Carter (ENG), Erik Jonasson (SWE), Rigel Fernandes (IND).
71 – Robert Dinwiddie (ENG), Constantin Schwierz (GER), Elliott Oxlade (ENG), Josh Hill (ENG-Am), Steve Webster (ENG), Todd Clements (ENG), Daniel Hendry (SCO), James Allan (ENG), Jack Floydd (ENG-Am).
72 – Pavan Sagoo (ENG), Jack Doherty (SCO), Conor O’Neil (SCO), Daniel Scourfield (ENG), Joshua White (ENG), Jake Ayres (ENG), Peter Stojanovski (MAC), Gustaf Kocken (SWE), Gabriel Axell (SWE), Ben Davies (ENG-Am), Daniel Kay (SCO), Curtis Knipes (ENG-Am), Louis Campbell (ENG), Daniel Suchan (CZE), Harry Konig (ENG), Robbie Busher (ENG), Arkesh Bhatia (IND-Am).

 

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