Peacock won the individual event at the Dubai Creek UAE PGA Pro-Am with an even par score of 71. The AESGC Tournament Co-ordinator had been humming along at two under only to drop a couple of late shots as the blustery wind and slippery greens that troubled finally caught up with him.

But it was still enough to win the UAE PGA Tour title by a shot from early order of merit leader Fraser McLaughlan (AESGC),  Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club head professional Michael Major and Jordan Gallagher (Pro Sports) who shared second place with 72s. Cian Hurley, Robbie McCarthy, Ross McArthur and Purna Sharma where joint fifth on 73.

In the Pro-Am section of the field David Gary led Hisham Shammas, Gregory Mathieu and Pascal Bartette to victory with a 16 under par total.

The champion team at the 2018 Dubai Creek UAE PGA Pro-Am.

The Track, Meydan Golf hosts the fourth round of the UAE PGA Tour season on October 28.

Related: Dubai Hills G.C. added to 2018-19 UAE PGA Tour schedule

The post Peacock wins Dubai Creek Pro-Am as McLaughlan extends UAE PGA Tour OOM lead appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Actually, make that good start a great one. The young Al Zorah professional opened the UAE PGA’s flagship event with a five under 67 at Arabian Ranches on Monday. It earned the tournament’s defending champion a four-stroke halfway lead over the trio of Jack Woods (Dubai Creek), Joe Marshall (Butch Harmon School of Golf) and Shane Peacock (Al Ain).

More importantly, Wears-Taylor enjoys a six-stroke buffer over Smith (The Address Montgomerie) heading into Tuesday’s final round after the newly minted UAE PGA Matchplay champion signed for a one-over 73.

It means Smith has it all to do on Tuesday although the way Wears-Taylor is playing, a fourth 2017-18 UAE PGA title looks his to lose. The real excitement could yet be lower down the leaderboard as players jockey for the last spots in the UAE PGA team for the May 12-13 Dubai Trophy.

As captain, Smith has two picks in his 14-man team for the matches at Emirates G.C. and Dubai Creek where the pros will be out to avoid a hat-trick of losses to the Emirates Golf Federation’s leading amateurs.

With defending OOM champion Cen Mills (Dubai Creek), currently third in this season’s points race, unavailable, there are spots up for grabs and Creek colleague Woods (17th) and the Monty’s Martin Robinson (18th) are well positioned after the first round to make a last gasp bid. Robinson was T-10 overnight after an opening 74.

Meanwhile, Jumeirah Golf Estates hosts the 36-hole EGF OOM Championship on May 4-5 to finalise the amateur team for the Dubai Trophy. One name guaranteed for the youngsters is JGE 14-year-old Josh Hill who has won seven EGF titles this summer, including six in an incredible three month spell.

The post Wears-Taylor makes fast start to UAE PGA Championship defence appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.