By Kent Gray
The on-again, off-again MENA Tour is on again, this time in an even more condensed ‘bubble’ that will float between Jordan, Oman and the UAE if coronavirus travel restrictions allow.

MENA Tour by Arena commissioner David Spencer wrote to the regional development tour’s membership on Tuesday, outlining a reworked 2021 schedule that “is fair, beneficial and cost-effective for all of our Members.”

On December 31, Spencer announced plans to play the five outstanding events from the stalled 2020 season at Ayla Golf Club in Aqaba, Jordan in March-April before an 11-event 2021 scheduled from early October.

COVID curveballs put pay to that but Spencer has this time pencilled in an October 1 start date for the five 2020 events, all of which will be hosted in a “golf bubble” at Ayla Resort, the MENA Tour’s official destination partner. A 2021 season of 10-11 events will then be squeezed into the period from November 1 to December 20.

Spencer said the tour hoped to play 2021 season events in Jordan, Muscat and in the UAE, with Al Ain, Al Zorah, Al Hamra and Tower Links likely venues in the Emirates. However, all will be dependent on COVID travel restrictions at the time with the tour to be guided by the vaccine regulations in each country with an almost play the lie mentality. The beauty of remaining in a bubble – now common place on the European and PGA Tours – is that all 15-16 events could feasibly be played at Ayla G.C. if need be, as challenging as that would be for the players.

In his email to players, Spencer said the MENA Tour would confirm the plan by June 15 this year “at the latest” to allow players to plan accordingly. With the majority of the developmental circuit’s players U.K. based, they will first require British Government permission to leave the U.K., will then need to quarantine for 14-days in a “green listed” Middle East destination – Dubai being the obvious option – before being permitted entry into Jordan, all the while hoping the green status of their quarantine base isn’t changed by the Jordanian authorities during the fortnight.

Spencer doesn’t expect any issues filling the maximum 132-player fields despite all the unknowns.

“We have been absolutely inundated with requests,” said Spencer who confirmed many of those requests had come from players from other competition starved tours.

He told Golf Digest Middle East that the “bulk” of events would retain $75,000 purses and any “slight” reduction in prize funds would be “directly attributable to any increase in player costs in relation to regulatory health costs.”

Spencer said the reworked schedule was drawn up to limit the financial outlay required by cash-strapped mini-tour players.

“I can’t imagine anyone of us will come out of this pandemic better off so we have tried to limit travel and accommodation costs,” Spencer said.

The flipside of that is playing events back to back to back at the same venue.

“We’ll start with a practice day, play 54-hole events, have a day off, play another 54-hole event, have a day off, and so on and so on. The bulk of events will be strokeplay but we’re also looking at the possibility of mixing it up with different formats like matchplay for example.

“Fortunately Ayla is such a unique destination with a great hotel now. We’ll have access to the beach club, swimming pools, night par 3 golf and ocean sports. The players will be able to do things in a bubble they can’t do elsewhere with such ease.”

Despite the ongoing challenges presented by the coronavirus, Spencer is confident the MENA Tour have found a solution that will give pro and elite amateurs some certainty in an uncertain time. He said the tour had retained all its sponsors and would be “announcing new partners shortly”. Golf Digest Middle East understands plans are also well advanced for an exciting 2022 season.

“There is absolutely no doubt that we are all living in a new world and I do not see 2021 being too much different from 2020. I do think that 2021 will be a year of recalibration and 2022 promises to be relatively normal, positive and calm. I am extremely confident that the plan that is set out above is fully achievable.

“That being said, if there are further changes they will be done from pure necessity. We will make sure that THE 2021 PLAN is fully confirmed to you all by June 15th, 2021 at the latest. This gives everyone 3+ months notice before we recommence play.

“We look forward to seeing you all again later this year. In the meantime please #StaySafe!!!”

The post MENA Tour back on with October 1 start date in Jordan; UAE, Oman to host events  appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
The MENA Tour by Arena might be on ice but it hasn’t stopped three of the regional circuit’s most recognisable names from finding novel ways, and places, to keep their swings in shape.

A directive from the UAE’s General Authority of Sports means under-18s are banned from the country’s courses as attempts to combat COVID-19 are ramped up. Thankfully for amateurs Josh Hill and Toby Bishop, it’s easy to practice while practicing social isolation with so much deserted desert on the outskirts of Dubai.

Check out this elaborate set-up in a post from Hill’s father, Russell:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Another decent practice in the desert this morning….tests the ball striking and calms the mental games one plays with social distancing!

A post shared by Russell (@russellhillgolf) on Mar 21, 2020 at 7:48am PDT

Here’s how Bishop, who had been on track to win three successive Emirates Golf Federation tournaments before the U-18s ban was implemented, is doing it:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

that ball was never to be found again… my new range since practice bans have been put in place? Thankfully there is a lot of desert here in Dubai?

A post shared by ????????Toby Bishop???????? (@welsh_golfer) on Mar 19, 2020 at 9:52am PDT

Bishop also has a quite the set-up at home to keep that powerful swing of his in synch. No shoes either!

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A drill a day keeps the Covid-19 away. Keeping up the focused practice from the garden at home ??

A post shared by ????????Toby Bishop???????? (@welsh_golfer) on Mar 21, 2020 at 8:03am PDT

Othman Almulla, Saudi Arabia’s first-ever professional, is also making the most of being confined to home.

#الزم_بيتك #بتمرن_بالبيت #السعودية @saudiolympic @Golf_Saudi pic.twitter.com/hz4GGcwrJk

— Othman Almulla (@o_almulla_golf) March 22, 2020

Nice shot, Othman. And keep it coming chaps.

Golf Digest Middle East is keen to learn how you intend to keep golfing at home. Tag us @golfdigestme and use the #playingthrough hashtag with your inventive home golf set-ups and we’ll share the best of them with our online community.

The post MENA Tour trio find novel ways to practice while practicing physical distancing appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The regional development circuit on Thursday announced it had taken the extraordinary decision to postpone the last six events of the 2020 season, citing “various travel issues caused by the ongoing COVID-19 situation”.

With five events already played, the tour was due to continue in the UAE capital with the new Abu Dhabi Triple Crown championship at Yas Links, Abu Dhabi Golf Club and Saadiyat Beach from March 16-19.

RELATED: Augusta National issues statement on coronavirus

But the remaining six events will now be rescheduled to September-December. It comes after the Ministry of Health on Wednesday urged Emiratis and expat residents against leaving the country or face airport checks and possible quarantine. The Ministry of Education has also ordered the closure of all schools and universities across the UAE for a month from Sunday as part of the nationwide efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus.

“The MENA Tour by Arena has been closely monitoring all channels of information related to issues involving COVID-19. As an international Tour, the health and safety of our players, staff, venue partners and partners in our paramount goal,” the MENA Tour said is a statement on shared on social media.

“We will endeavour to release the revised schedule by the end of this month. Our current planning is for the revised Tournament schedule for 2020 to neatly flow into the 2021 MENA Tour by Arena season.”

Unfortunately, due to the various travel issues caused by the ongoing COVID-19 situation, the MENA Tour by Arena has decided to postpone the remainder of our 2020 season to September-December. We will post the new schedule as soon as possible. pic.twitter.com/oMJAZHWtYY

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) March 5, 2020

In a regional sporting context, the MENA Tour is not alone. Cycling’s UCI-sanctioned UAE Tour was abandoned last Thursday after two Italian team officials tested positive for the disease. Six related cases have since been reported while two French teams, Cofidis and Groupama, will remain under quarantine in the UAE until March 14.

Another golf event, The Ladies Open due to be played at Yas Links from March 6-7, has also been postponed.

Yas Links Abu Dhabi.

“As a precautionary and proactive measure, and in conjunction with local authorities, the decision has been made to postpone the Ladies Open at Yas Links Abu Dhabi until further notice,” the tournament announced via social media. “The decision has been taken to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of players, guests and visitors.”

The post Coronavirus forces postponement of second half of MENA Tour season appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

But the second-year pro, who carded a four-under 68 at Ayla Golf Club on Tuesday for a one-shot lead after the opening round of the $75,000 event, knows his time will come as long as he’s patient. The 24-year-old Englishman, who joined the paid ranks in late 2018 after a decorated amateur career, is certainly trending towards victory. He played three Challenge Tour events in South Africa on invites before returning to the MENA Tour and made the cut in all three, highlighted by a T-7 in Cape Town that has him 13th overall on Europe’s second-tier tour.

“It would be nice to get playing status on Challenge Tour. Obviously, I want to win [as well] and getting it on the MENA Tour would be great, but these are things you cannot rush,” said Waite who will take a one-shot buffer into Tuesday’s second round over playing partner Benjamin David and Curtis Knipes (both England) and Scotland’s Ryan Lumsden.

“I look at Hague, Langley and Bailey [Gill] and they have all gone and won events in their first few weeks as a pro and here I am, have been a pro for more than a year and still haven’t got my first win.

“I can get down upon myself, or I can keep doing the right things and stay patient knowing that my week will come.”

Waite, a former European Amateur Championship runner-up and semi-finalist at The Amateur Championship, frustratingly three-putted his final hole for the only bogey in a round punctuated by five birdies.

The Bristol lad has taken a different tact this week after finished tied 37th in the Journey to Jordan #2 last year before securing his MENA Tour card by finishing 10th in Qualifying School B in January. It helped being spurred on by playing partners David and Tom Sloman who shot a two-under-par 70 to be tied fifth alongside Sweden’s Ake Nilsson. Pavan Sagoo, Jamie Rutherford, Luke Joy and Filip Lundell, winner of Q-School B at the same venue, were tied seventh at one-under-par 71.

“I have not played too well around here, so I had a slightly different mindset this week to go and shoot the best that I possibly can and I am lucky I played with good guys – David and Sloman – and they played well as well,” said Waite.

“I had a decent start today, went a bit quiet in the middle and kept playing well on the back nine. I hit two good shots into the 18th but ended up with a bogey. It’s just one of those things, and I have got to take the positives from this. I was five-under-par through 17 and shot a 68 which was a good round.”

The Felton Golf Club member has started working with Liam James in Belfry as his coach and his friend Will Donald as a mental coach.

“I have come out this year with a better mental frame and probably better technically. I did not have any status and just played on invites in 2019. But it was a slow year and I did not get going. I have worked on all departments of the game and very much looking forward to what 2020 has in store.”

In the race between David Langley and David Hague to secure the Trophee Hassan II start on the European Tour as the leader of the Journey to Jordan Order of Merit at the halfway stage of the 2020 MENA Tour season, Hague was slightly ahead of his rival, even though both players had a start to forget. Hague opened with a 75 and Langley shot 77.

India’s Arjun Gupta was the best-placed amateur in the field, tied 20th after a round of two-over 74.

The post Waite leads in Aqaba but not rushing in search of maiden pro victory appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Forget Goliath – this is a battle between David and David.

More accurately, it’s a battle within the battle at this week’s $75,000 Journey to Jordan #2 Championship back at Ayla Golf Club in Jordan, the MENA Tour by Arena’s destination partner.

The leader of the overall Order of Merit after the 54-holer in Aqaba, which marks the official halfway stage of the regional circuit’s regular season, earns a precious invite to the Trophee Hassan II from June 4-7. Furthermore, either of the Davids, Langley and Hague, will win free accommodation at the European Tour event’s official hotel in Morocco, nothing to be sneezed at when you are trying to make your way in the expensive world of professional golf.

Langley has the advantage heading into Monday’s opening round – just. The 25-year-old Marlow man leads the Journey to Jordan OOM (not to be confused with the name of this week’s tournament name) but only by $784 from Hague. Langely also has special memories of Ayla G.C. having captured the season-opening Journey to Jordan #1 Championship at the Greg Norman-designed layout.

“Absolutely. The spot in Morocco is on my mind and if someone else in my situation says they are not thinking about it, they’d probably be lying,” said Langley.

“But it is not something that is going to control my shots during the tournament. It is something you think outside of it. I will be focused on each shot that I hit when I play the tournament.

“I have very happy memories of this golf course, and obviously, having played it quite a few times, I am very familiar with it. I drove the ball very well and made almost every putt from inside 10 feet when I won the Journey to Jordan #1, and I will have to do pretty much the same again this week.”

The equation for Hague, meanwhile, is simple. With $400 assured for the last-placed player this week, the Yorkshireman will have to finish inside a two-way tie for the 12th place or better to have any chance of overtaking Langley.

David Hague.

Hague does have the advantage of momentum after winning last week’s Bahrain Open while Langley struggled with a final round 79. It was almost a case of reverse fortunes; when Langley won the season opener, Hague started his professional career with rounds of 81-77 to uncomfortably miss the cut.

“I won’t say Morocco is my top priority right now. I am pretty good at taking every competition as it comes. It’s just a consequence of playing well and that’s what I’d be focused on this week,” Hague said.

“I did not have a great start to my professional career here, but I am looking forward to competing on this course. I think I was too aggressive here the last time and threw away a few shots through careless mistakes. That’s something I want to avoid.”

Hague, who turned pro after MENA Tour by Arena Qualifying School at the same venue, has not touched his clubs after playing the Pro-Am in Bahrain a day after his victory.

“I got into Aqaba only last night after facing a few travel issues and today was the first day I actually practiced. It’s been a crazy couple of days with so many messages from friends and people I know. I am so looking forward to going back home next week, but I have a job to do before that.”

Fittingly, Langley and Hague have been paired together for the first two rounds and start their campaigns on Monday at 9.20am local time (11.20am UAE time).

The post Langley and Hague race for Trophee Hassan II start as Journey to Jordan returns to Aqaba appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Now, four events into life in the paid ranks and the 24-year-old Englishman is celebrating his maiden victory after edging former European Tour player Victor Riu by a stroke at the $75,000 Royal Golf Club Bahrain Open.

“This is amazing and very satisfying,” said the Malton and Norton Golf Club member who carded a one-under 71 in difficult conditions in Riffa to win with a nine-under, 207 total.

“I have been thinking of turning professional for more than a year now and always had my doubts about it. I felt I was on a good run when I played the MENA Tour Qualifying School, and thought it was a good time to make the decision. This win definitely validates it.”

After an inauspicious start to his pro career when rounds of 81-77 saw him miss the cut at the season-opening Journey to Jordan #1 Championship, Hague has shown the class that saw him represent Great Britain and Ireland in the Walker Cup and rise to as high as 76th in the amateur world rankings. He was runner-up to Frenchman Sébastien Gros at the NEWGIZA Open in Cairo and 11th at last week’s Ghala Open. The $13,500 cheque for winning in Bahrain means he is just $784 behind countryman David Langley in the season-long Journey to Jordan Order-of-Merit race which rewards the circuit’s top players with European and Asian Tour starts.

Chris Garrity, General Manager of Royal Golf Club, with David Hague and low amateur Saud Al Sharif.

Hague started the final round with a one-stroke lead but was trailing at the turn after making a double bogey on the 7th, allowing Scot Ryan Lumsden to surging ahead courtesy of an eagle on the par-5 ninth hole.

But Hague made three birdies on the back nine as against a solitary bogey on the 12th hole, including a crucial one on the par-4 15th hole, which was playing very tough into the headwind. It was a two-shot swing against both Lumsden and Riu, his closest rivals, who dropped shots on the same hole.

“I drove consistently well this whole week and that really was the key to my winning. I struggled with my putter from inside six feet and made several three-putts – something I need to work on.

“When I was trailing at the turn, I knew I needed to be patient because the back nine of this golf course has been pretty good to me. And yes, that birdie on the 15th was a key moment for me.”

Lumsden (71) and Callum Fyfe (70) were tied third at -7 alongside England’s Ben Hutchinson (67) and Sweden’s Henric Sturehed (68) – the two best cards on a day when players had to battle through occasional drizzle and steady high wind at the Colin Montgomerie-designed Royal Golf Club.

Saud Al Sharif.

Saud Al Sharif, a member of the Saudi National Team and the host club, could not replicate the stunning performance from the second round and slipped down the leaderboard with an 81 in his first experience of playing in the leading group of a professional event. However, his two-over-par total was still good enough to win him the Low Amateur of the Tournament prize.

“It was a tough day on the golf course, but I wanted to do better than what I did,” said the 19-year-old.

“However, this is my first time in a situation like this and I am sure I have learned a lot on how to handle things in the future. This experience will make me a better player,”.

The MENA Tour travels to Aqaba, Jordan, for the $75,000 Journey to Jordan #2 next week.

The post Englishman David Hague captures Bahrain Open in just his fourth pro start appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Max Kramer, Joel Girrbach and David Hague share the opening-round lead at the MENA Tour’s $75,000 Royal Golf Club Bahrain Open and equally fascinating background stories as topsy-turvy as their respective 66s on Monday.

Kramer perhaps edges the story behind the top of the leaderboard story stakes after being diagnosed with an arrhythmic heart and being reduced to just four EuroPro Tour starts last year.

Girrbach is also making a comeback after losing his European Tour card last season following a disappointing run to 229th place in the Race to Dubai. His opening gambit in Riffa was even more remarkable as it was his first competitive round in three months and included successive bogeys at the 7th and 8th holes to drop back to even par before he played his final 10 holes in six-under.

Hague, meanwhile, only turned pro of the MENA Tour by Arena Q-School and has made another early statement of intent after recently finishing runner-up at the NEWGIZA Open in Cairo. His was an even better recovery than Girrbach’s; one-over-par after eight holes Hague rattled off five birdies and a spectacular holed-out eagle from a fairway bunker on the 17th.

Given he is simply happy to be back playing after last year’s health scare, Kramer was doubly delighted with his start to the regional development circuit’s fourth event of 2020.

“I had played a few events at the start of 2019, but I wasn’t feeling very good. I went to the doctor and they found out I had arrhythmia of heart,” said the Dusseldorf-based 36-year-old, a former German national amateur team-mate of two-time major champion Martin Kaymer.

“It was very scary when we found out because this is no age to get a heart condition. However, after three months of complete rest, I am much better.

“Today was an amazing round for me. I was seven-under-par through the first 10 holes with an eagle on the third and on the par-4 10th. I played the last eight in one-over, but I am so happy with this round. Especially with what happened last year, and also the way I played last week in Oman where I shot an 11-over par round and was hitting the ball over the place.”

Max, the BraveHeart!
Germany’s Max Kramer played just 4 events on @PGAEuroProTour before he was diagnosed with an arrhythmic heart.
After 3 months of forced rest, Kramer, once a teammate of @MKaymer59, is back playing golf.
On Monday, he shot a 66 to lead Royal GC Bahrain Open. pic.twitter.com/AaO7xlsCbu

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) February 24, 2020

Girrbach, who graduated to the European Tour last season, took nearly three months off from competitive golf to get his game back in shape after his Race to Dubai disappointment, including a long trip to South Africa to work with his coach, Dougie Wood.

“I haven’t played a competitive round after missing out at the second stage of the European Tour Qualifying School. It was a disappointing season and I put in a lot of work in my technique. This is the first competing round for me to see where my game is and I am very pleased,” said Girrbach.

Joel Girrbach

“I felt ready after the winter work and I was looking for tournaments to play. With my category on the Challenge Tour, I will only be able to play events from May. So, I asked a few friends and they all highly recommended the MENA Tour. I asked for an invite and here I am.

“I made a couple of mistakes towards the end of my front nine and I just tried to be aggressive after that. I drove the green on the par-4 10th, and nearly drove the green on the par-4 11th. Those two birdies were a good start to the back nine and I just continued from there.”

The consistent Hague was relishing a fast start, having opened with a 72 in finishing second at NEWGIZA Open and a 69 in tied 10th place at Ghala Open last week.

“I drove it really well all day and kept it in play even though I did not start that well. Made two three-putts from the fringe and was one-over-par after eight. I just told myself to remain patient and the birdies would come, and that’s exactly what happened,” said Hague.

“The eagle on 17th was nice towards the end of the round. I hit it into the right bunker and had 142 yards from there. Hit a good shot and it took a couple of bounces and went in.”

Frenchman Antoine Schwartz was alone in fourth place at five-under-par 67, while there was a group of six players at 68 – Scotsman Scott Henry, the Irish duo of Paul McBride and Robin Dawson, Sweden’s Mathias Weiderman and the English pair of Tom Combe and Mitch Waite.

Saudi Arabia’s Bahrain-based Saud Al Sharif, a member of Royal Golf Club, was the leading amateur at one-under-par 71.

Day 1 has come to a close in the @royalgolfclub Bahrain Open. These are the leading scores:

66 – @joelgirrbach, @dhague96, Max Kramer
67 – Antoine Schwartz
6 players tied at 68

Scores here:https://t.co/AvIGzUhuKb pic.twitter.com/TiMmjZ8Q8K

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) February 24, 2020

The post A three-way tie for the opening round lead in Bahrain throws up a trio of fascinating backstories appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

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.

By Kent Gray
Bailey Gill planned to tee it up at the $75,000 Royal Golf Club Bahrain Open next week. Instead he’ll be rubbing shoulders with the likes for former world No.1 Martin Kaymer at the European Tour’s Oman Open, an event with a cool million extra greenbacks on the line. Amazing, potentially life-changing things like that happen to good players on the MENA Tour by Arena.

The 22-year-old Englishman was trying to get his head around the sudden change of plans after capturing the $13,500 winner’s cheque at the Ghala Open on Wednesday.

The Worksop lefty birdied his last three holes and five of his last six in a bogey-free 65 to get to -15 and win by one from overnight leader and room-mate David Langley. Scot Craig Ross, who briefly owned the lead by two strokes at the turn, settled for third at -12, a shot ahead of impressive Dubai-based Indian teen Arjun Gupta who signed for a bogey-free 66 and his best MENA Tour result. Gupta played his final 36-holes in 11-under-par to seal his second amateur title on the regional development circuit after he shared that honour with pal Josh Hill at last November’s Tour Championship.

CHAMPIONS!!
England’s @baileygill1997 (16-under par) and India’s Arjun Gupta are the Professional and Amateur winners of the Ghala Open.
Gill’s reward, apart from the $13,500 cheque, is a spot in next week’s Oman Open on the @EuropeanTour. pic.twitter.com/Ko88ScAd8z

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) February 19, 2020

But this was Gill’s day, a scarcely believable pro breakthrough after he wasted a golden opportunity at the inaugural NEWGIZA Open last week.

The southpaw started the final round in Cairo just a shot out of the lead but faded to a share of 12th. They say you learn most not from your victories but your disappointments and that clearly proved the case after Gill signed for a closing two-over 74 at NEWGIZA Golf Club, the equal worst score of anyone who finished in the top 40.

“This is fantastic,” said Gill. “I have been waiting for some time now for this to happen. It did not happen in Cairo, but I am glad I could hang on and win here in Oman.

“I was disappointed last week, but I came here knowing I was playing solid. I have been playing good golf for some time now, just struggling to get everything together and I am glad I managed to do that.”

Get it done he surely did, but not without a few nerve-jangling moments down the stretch. Twice on the last two holes weak, pushed drives looked to have cost the Lindrick Golf Club member but he recovered both times with a pair of spectacular chips to tap-in range. Check them out:

With this exquisite chip to less than 2 feet, @baileygill1997 has taken a one-shot lead at -15 going into the final hole of the Ghala Open. pic.twitter.com/928YvaYwVR

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) February 19, 2020

That brilliant chip by @baileygill1997 left him with his short putt to make a birdie and edge ahead of a fast-charging @DavidLangley59 by one shot… pic.twitter.com/aMI7p7tLlh

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) February 19, 2020

“Those two were tough shots on the last two holes. I hit a horrible tee shot on the 18th hole and there was a lot of pressure when David holed his putt for a birdie on the last. David really played great despite the poor start he had, especially on that back nine.”

“I’m delighted to win the Ghala Open and I can’t wait to get going next week at the Oman Open at Al Mouj Golf. It will be my first European Tour event so I’m really looking forward to the challenge of playing with some of the best golfers in the world.

“I have only been a professional now for around five months so I’m really happy this opportunity has come to me so soon and I hope I can take advantage of it.”

Langley, seeking a second MENA Tour title inside three weeks, was left to rue a double-bogey start in a topsy-turvy closing 67. The 25-year-old Marlow rookie bounced back immediately with a birdie two but bogeyed the par-5 3rd before reaching the turn in 38 strokes, two over. He triggered a charge by driving it just short of the 375-yard par-4 10th and coolly holing the eagle putt before rattling off five birdies in his final seven holes for a homeward nine played in 29 strokes.

One of our spectators took this video of @DavidLangley59 driving to the edge of the 375-yard par-4 10th green and sinking his eagle putt to get back to even par for the round. pic.twitter.com/fxExKMJtzn

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) February 19, 2020

Sadly for Langley, the brilliant back-nine left him just shy of playoff although he does have the consolation of a near $10,000 lead over Gill in the Journey to Jordan money-race heading to Bahrain.

“I am gutted, but after that finish, if I had to lose to someone, I’d rather it be Bailey,” said the 25-year-old, also playing his first full season as a professional.

“I was rooming with him last week in Cairo and I know how upset he was after the finish there and credit to him for getting it done.

“I hit a perfect tee shot on the first and made a poor swing with my second. Obviously, the adrenaline was pumping a bit. That double affected me on the fourth hole, which is a par-5 and I could not make a birdie there. Being two-over after four on an easier stretch was not ideal, but I stayed patient and went on a roll on the back nine.

“A win here would have possibly got me two European Tour starts [Oman for winning Ghala Open and Hassan Trophee II for topping the Journey to Jordan at the halfway stage], so there was that pressure. Good to see Bailey getting the Oman spot and I am in a nice position to get into Morocco after this.”

Gupta, who turns 16 in May, showed once again why he is considered one of the brightest prospects in the region as he notched his first top-five on the MENA Tour and came to within one shot of earning his first-ever Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points.

Arjun Gupta played his final 36-holes in 11-under-par.

“I am happy with my finish. The whole week my short game and my putting was very good. I could have probably driven the ball a bit better, but I can’t complain after such a finish,” said the Dubai-born Gupta, who is coached by Jamie McConnell at the Claude Harmon III Performance Golf Academy in Dubai.

“I want to win the Amateur Journey to Jordan this year and this is a good step in that direction. I also want to win a tournament on the MENA Tour and this gives me confidence that I am close.”

Final scores from Ghana Open:

-16 – @baileygill1997
-15 – @DavidLangley59
-12 – @CraigRoss64
-11 – Arjun Gupta (Am)
-10 – @alf1e_p, @PavanSagooo, Curtis Knipes, Benjamin Jones (Am), @PaulMcBride0

Full scores here:https://t.co/970IwPtaoz pic.twitter.com/ZKEmYkFP5u

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) February 19, 2020

The post Bailey Gill wins Ghala Open as Dubai teen Arjun Gupta records best MENA Tour finish appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

A stunning seven-under-par 65 Tuesday propelled Langley to -10 through 36 holes and to the summit of the $75,000 Ghala Open leaderboard and will see the 25-year-old Englishman take a one-stroke lead into Wednesday’s final round over a gaggle of five players.

After winning the season-opening Journey to Jordan #1 Championship and backing his dream debut up with a T-8 finish at the inaugural NEWGIZA Open in Cairo last week, Langley’s impact on the regional development tour has been instant and mightily impressive. Victory in Muscat would add to the fairytale and hand the rookie Marlow professional a scarcely believable start in the European Tour’s $1.75 million Oman Open next week.

It would also give Langley a sizeable lead in the season-long Journey to Jordan race which promises precious 2021 European and Asia Tour starts to the eventual Order-of-Merit title winner.

“I feel confident. I am swinging it really well,” said Langley who leads by one from 2017 Open Championship silver medallist Alfie Plant (68), fellow Englishmen Pavan Sagoo (67), Jake Ayres (68) and Bailey Gill (67) and Scotland’s Craig Ross (67).

“I think I have gained strokes in driving every day this season on the MENA Tour and yesterday was probably the only round when I did not gain strokes in putting. I played so well in the final round in Egypt, but I guess I was trying too hard over there and shot just two-under when I had a very low one in me that day. A tied eighth finish is pretty good, but I learned a lot from that round, and from Jordan. So, hopefully, we can get the job done tomorrow.”

Let’s just say England’s @DavidLangley59 is on a roll. He won in Jordan and finished inside the top-10 in Cairo. On Tuesday, he shot a seven-under par 65 to currently lead the Ghala Open by one shot.

We asked him what was he doing particularly well to enjoy this purple patch… pic.twitter.com/eOubmltJLr

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) February 18, 2020

Starting from the 10th tee, Langley’s round was highlighted by a spectacular slam-dunk eagle when he holed a wedge from 84 yards on the par-4 11th. His only bogey came soon after on the 14th hole, but with 16 greens in regulation, he was never in any major trouble after that and also picked up shots on all four of Ghala Golf Club’s par-5s.

“It was a pretty good day. When you start with an eagle like that, it’s always good,” said Langley who improved to No. 1187 in the world rankings after his win in Jordan.

“I flew it straight into the hole and I feel sorry because I damaged the cup a bit. Made a silly error on the 14th, and missed a short birdie putt on the 17th, but apart from that, it was solid golf.”

NEWGIZA Open winner Sebastien Gros lurks dangerously after a second straight 68, leaving the Frenchman alone in eighth place at -8, while countryman and overnight leader Antoine Schwartz (71), Scot Sam Locke (70), the 2018 Open Championship low amateur, and England’s in-form David Hague (68) are three behind the leader at -7.

India’s Dubai-based Arjun Gupta is the leading amateur courtesy a splendid round five-under-par 67 that took him up to tied 16th place, two ahead of Russian 16-year-old Ivan Striganov (74).

There was also a proud moment for Saudi golf as all three players in the field – professional Othman Almulla and amateurs Saud Al Sharif and Ali Alsakha – made the cut, which fell at two-over-par.

Such an amazing moment for Saudi golf!! All three players in the field at @theMENATour’s Ghala Open – professional @o_almulla_golf and amateurs Saud Al Sharif and Ali Alsakha- have made the cut!!

Great progress and well done to @SaudiGolf! pic.twitter.com/YBC8BG071T

— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyofGolf) February 18, 2020

The post White-hot Langley eyes second MENA Tour title in three weeks appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.