By Kent Gray
Steven Kelbrick is living proof that life begins at 50 and has a golf magazine article to prove it.  Now he also subscribes to the fabled adage that warns: “Beware the injured/sick golfer”.

Related: Meet the Dubai amateur chasing a St. Andrews play date with Tom Watson

Full of the dreaded man flu, the 50-year-old Dubai amateur finally, somehow, landed a long overdue Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) order of merit title after signing for rounds of 72-71 to clinch the Tower Links Men’s Open on Saturday.  Kelbrick’s 143 aggregate edged Arjun Gupta (Jumeirah Golf Estates) by two strokes with Scotsman Robert Glenesk third a further shot back.

The Brit flew out to the UK on business after contesting the Staysure Tour’s (formerly European Senior Tour’s) Sharjah Senior Golf Masters earlier this month and has struggled with a head cold ever since.

“It’s funny, you’re not thinking about anything other than feeling awful and then you write down a number and all of the sudden it’s ‘oh s…’ that’s not bad,” he said.

Kelbrick is the defending EGF OOM champion after rattling off eight top five finishes and two-second place finishes in 2016-17. He’s finished no worse than fifth in all five starts this season including a third runner-up finish to teen Josh Hill at the Abu Dhabi Men’s Open in February.

Related: Josh Hill, just 13, fires Trump course record en-route to third successive EGF title

You’d think the near misses would be frustrating, but not for Kelbrick.

“It really is nice to win one and it probably should have mattered more in the past but I was really only focused on winning the order of merit last season. This year I really wanted to qualify for the Dubai Trophy [May 12-13 matches pitting the EGF’s best against UAE PGA teaching professionals]. I really enjoyed that last year and I should have secured it now, it should be a done deal.”

Kelbrick still has to play at least one more OOM event to qualify (amateurs need a minimum six starts to be eligible] so has this weekend’s Al Ain Men’s Open in his crosshairs. He’s already organised a practice round with local hero Tom Buchanan whom he’ll likely meet again at the Dubai Trophy.

Related: Buchanan returns to scene of dream European Tour debut, wins third UAE PGA title on the trot

Kelbrick, unsurprising given how lousy he felt, wasn’t striking it great at Tower Links and found himself two behind with five to play in the final round. But a 118-yard wedge shot flushed to three feet on the 14th sparked a run of three birdies in the final five holes, capped by a driver-seven iron-sand save birdie on the par-5 18th.

“I had a real dodgy patch in the middle of the round but you know how golf goes, you stripe one and it all comes back,” he said.

Kelbrick’s putting is also coming back thanks to some concentrated instruction from Arabian Ranches putting specialist and Aim Point Express qualified pro Malcolm Young.

“At Sharjah, I just couldn’t get the ball in the hole but struck it well and received a number of compliments,” said the duel Trump Dubai-Royal Liverpool member who carded rounds of 75-76-74 to finish T-42 at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club.

“With hard work and excellent dialogue, Malcolm has got me to a position where instead of being a complete weakness, my putting is at the point of becoming a strength. We are still building confidence.

“The swing feels good and whilst we are not quite there yet, [new Yas Links Director of Instruction] Mathew [Parker] and I are feeling good going into the events in summer time.”

Related: Parker happy to be back as DOI at Yas Links

The post On a high despite feeling lousy, Kelbrick somehow snares elusive EGF title at Tower Links appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The 51-year-old Thai made it back-to-back Staysure Tour wins when he out-lasted American Clark Dennis and Australia Peter Fowler in extra time that went so long they had to switch on the floodlights at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club.

“I have never played under floodlights before so that was a new challenge for me,” said the former Asian Tour player who backed up his victory at the season-ending MBC Championship in Mauritius last December.

“Hopefully, I can kick on from here and really concentrate on the year ahead. The pin positions were really difficult today compared to the first two days so it was a real challenge out there. I had to be patient in the playoff as we were all hitting good shots every time we played the hole so I needed to keep my focus and wait for my chance. I just knew I had to get the win.

“I look forward to returning to Sharjah next year to defend my title. This is a great start to my season on the 2018 Staysure Tour.”

The team at SGSC also hope to cash in on the success of the second staging of the Staysure Tour event. Staysure Tour CEO Savid MacLaren led the praise for the $425,000 tournament that remains the only main tour event to be played on a nine-hole course. In a new development, Kiwi superintendent Marty Brown cut two different pins for the final day, offering another challenge on the Peter Harradine-designed layout presented in pristine condition.

“I didn’t think it was possible to be as excited about this year’s Sharjah Senior Golf Masters as last year but I actually was,” said MacLaren. “The reaction of everybody involved in the event, and in particularly the players, makes you realise that we’ve done something well.”

Said Staysure chairman Ryan Howsam: “What a brilliant week we have had here at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club. The condition of the course was absolutely fantastic and the players that played on it were superb.

“It was great watching the last group today; they hardly made any mistakes so it was great to see such a spectacle. I’m over the aged of 50 now so from my point of view I would love to be able to do what these players can. From a business point of view, our main focus is on the over 50s market and this is obviously an over 50s Tour so the connection between the two just makes perfect sense. This is such a great launching platform for Staysure.”

The next Staysure Tour stop is not until May but it is literally major, the KitchenAid U.S. Senior PGA Championship in Michigan from May 24-27. The next European stop is the Shipco Masters in Denmark from June 1-3.

The post Watch Wiratchant survive a four-hole playoff to claim the Staysure Tour season-opener at SGSC appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The Thai edged reigning Staysure Tour order of merit champion Clark Dennis with a tap-in par on Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club’s 18th hole at the fourth time of asking after Australian Peter Fowler had been eliminated after a bogey on the first hole of the playoff which finished under lights.

It was Wiratchant’s second successive European Seniors win after he captured the season-ending MBC Tour Championship Mauritius last December.

WINNER: Thaworn Wiratchant wins the 2018 Sharjah Senior Golf Masters presented by Shurooq with par on the fourth extra hole #SharjahSGM pic.twitter.com/w5qUYCKoW2

— Staysure Tour (@StaysureTour) March 10, 2018

Dennis and Wiratchant started the final round at -11 with a shot buffer over Fowler but could only manage 71s to the Australian’s 69.

Fowler bogeyed the penultimate hole to give up a lead he held for much of the final round and then cruelly watched a birdie attempt on the final hole for victory lip out. Dennis, meanwhile, holed a eight-footer for birdie on the 54th hole to make it a three-way playoff at -12.

Fowler’s heartache was complete as he then three-putted from 45-feet in the first hole of sudden death to be eliminated as Wiratchant coolly saved par from the left-hand trap courtesy of a nerve jangling 10-footer and Dennis two-putted for his par from the back fringe.

On their second trip down the 18th hole in overtime, Wiratchant had the best chance but a similar length putt to the one he holed at the first time of asking slide by and the par went back down the 18th for a third time, this time with the help of SGSC’s floodlights.

They traded pars again to extend the playoff to a fourth hole before Wiratchant’s par got the job done.

The post Wiratchant wins Sharjah Senior Golf Masters in dramatic playoff appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Clark Dennis has company atop the Sharjah Senior Golf Masters leaderboard in Thaworn Wiratchant while decorated Australian Peter Fowler went crazy low on Friday to cling onto their coattails heading into the final round of the Staysure Tour season-opener.

The trio are grouped together in the final threesome of what shapes as an absorbing Saturday shootout at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club. They’re off at 12.55pm with South African James Kingston, at -7 after second round 68, looking the only other player capable of challenging the frontrunners at the $425,000 event.

Wiratchant made the decisive early move on moving day, a bogey-free 65 allowing the Thai to set the early clubhouse target at -11.

Reigning Staysure Tour order of merit champion and overnight leader Dennis joined him after  overcoming a bogey start to sign for a 68 while Fowler eagled the par-5 15th (with a chip-in) for the second successive day en-route to an eight-under 64, the new SGSC course record.

Fowler is on -9 and must be ruing his double-bogey finish in an opening 71. Still, the 58-year-old has the pedigree – five Staysure Tour titles – to ensure Dennis and Wiratchant will sweat on their lead.

“I was a long way behind after some good scores this morning, and Clark was pretty hot as well. I had to put something good together today, which I did, so I’m looking forward to tomorrow,” said Fowler.

Fowler on fire.

The Australian sank this birdie putt for an eight under par round of 64 and the new course record at @SharjahGolf #SharjahSGM. He’s just two strokes behind the leaders on nine under par. pic.twitter.com/tIBXi5FZhH

— Staysure Tour (@StaysureTour) March 9, 2018

Texan Dennis, 52, won twice last season but Wiratchant won more recently at the season ending MBC Tour Championship in Mauritius last December.

“My round today was great because I seemed to have control with all my shots,” said Wiranchat afterwards.

Clark Dennis.
Photo by Phil Inglis/Getty Images.

“I love it here in Sharjah because the weather is hot like Thailand and the course is in exceptional condition. It was easier today because there was less wind and the pin position was better. I came here with no expectations so to be joint-leader going into the final round, I’m very happy.”

Wiratchant equals the course record with this birdie on the last, signing for a seven under par 65 and an 11 under par total #SharjahSGM.

The Thai leads by four strokes. pic.twitter.com/QWdp1j817x

— Staysure Tour (@StaysureTour) March 9, 2018

Dennis rattled off three birdies in his next five holes after the bogey start and then traded a bogey on the 9th with three further birdies.

“I played some good golf again today but it was definitely more of a struggle than yesterday,” said the former PGA Tour player.

“I didn’t quite have the ‘A’ game but I still managed to hit some good shots on the back nine which gave me a couple of birdies so I’m really glad that I got to 11 under par heading into the final day. Tomorrow is a new day and everyone is going to be looking for those birdies.

“I don’t think that anyone will be trying to protect anything so it should be a low scoring day. Hopefully I can come out tomorrow and execute my game plan and make a few putts.”

Spaniard Martin Miguel Angel and Englishman Philip Golding, meanwhile, complete the top five on six under par after rounds of 70 of 68.

Amateur players Steven Kelbrick and Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club’s Amir Al Naimi carded rounds of 76 and 78 respectively as they once again battled with some of the biggest names of the past. Dubai-based Brit Kelbrick goes into the final round on seven over par with Iranii Al Naimi on eight over.

Incredible diversity on the Staysure Tour. Eight players from seven countries representing six continents inside the top seven on the #SharjahSGM leaderboard.

?????????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/KcYzvhLjCx

— Staysure Tour (@StaysureTour) March 9, 2018

The post Wiratchant joins Dennis atop Sharjah leaderboard as course record 64 fires Fowler into the mix appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
The European Senior Tour might have started the new season with a fresh name, but it’s clear Clark Dennis hasn’t changed one bit.

Dennis started the new Staysure Tour season where he left off last season as order of merit champion, a sizzling 65 earning the 52-year-old Texan a sizeable lead on the opening day of the 2nd Sharjah Senior Golf Masters. The American’s bogey-free seven under loop of Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club will see him start Friday’s second round with a three shot buffer over Thai Thaworn Wiratchant, Englishman Philip Golding and Frenchman Marc Farry.

Related: Dennis a happily marked man in Sharjah

Peter Baker (England) and South African James Kingston are a further shot back after 69s.

“It’s great, I played very nicely today, didn’t make a bogey and I think I only missed one green,” Dennis said afterwards.

“It was a pretty stress-free round, I hit a lot of good shots and could have been a few lower. First group out, I was honoured to be able to hit the first shot of the new Staysure Tour, it was perfect conditions, not a breath of wind for nine holes. The greens are perfect and the course is in phenomenal condition. It was there to be had. It’s a good place to be, at the top of the leaderboard…that’s certainly my preference.”

An historic moment this morning as Clark Dennis struck the first tee shot of the Staysure Tour era #SharjahSGM pic.twitter.com/YM7F5UjHCO

— Staysure Tour (@StaysureTour) March 8, 2018

Defending champion Chris Williams (South Africa) opened with an even par 72 while Dubai-based amateur Steven Kelbrick signed for a three-over 75.

Related: Meet the Dubai amateur aiming for a play date with Tom Watson…via Sharjah

A third consecutive birdie for Clark Dennis and the American moves to five under par, one stroke ahead of Peter Fowler who eagled the 15th #SharjahSGM pic.twitter.com/kwB6hQjQn4

— Staysure Tour (@StaysureTour) March 8, 2018

The post Clark Dennis resumes where he left off last season, leads Sharjah Senior Golf Masters with a 65 appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Lane goes in search of his sixth Staysure Tour title when the circuit formerly known as European Senior Tour makes its 2018 bow at the Sharjah Senior Golf Masters on Thursday. It will be English pro’s ninth seniors campaign and he’s still tinkering away, trying to be the best he can be to add to a CV that included five premier European Tour wins and the 1995 Anderson Consulting World Championship of Golf, a precursor to the current WGC events.

But with the tinkering comes inevitable creeks caused by those advancing years.

“I’ve been trying to work on a couple of different swing moves and it’s caused a little bit of an issue with my back – sadly I’m not 25 years old anymore,” said Lane after guiding Golf Digest Middle East in Wednesday’s Pro-Am at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club.

The official Pro-Am day has arrived! Tune in for more of the action on https://t.co/F9rJGDtdil #SharjahSGM #SharjahGolf #Shurooq pic.twitter.com/jX4JQLxZog

— Sharjah Senior Golf Masters (@SharjahSGM) March 7, 2018

“But I’m always thinking about the game, even at 57. I’m always trying to improve. It’s an on-going thing with me, trying to do some stretching work so my body can do what my brain wants it to do. That’s half the battle when you reach my age. The mind wants you to do it, but the body is saying ‘hang on, you’re not a young man anymore!’

Lane finished 29th at the inaugural Sharjah Senior Golf Masters last March and went on to win the Willow Senior Golf Classic at Hanbury Manor in Hertfordshire in August. He finished seventh in the order of merit – he’s only ever finished outside the top-5 three times and no worse than 20th in his rookie year of 2010 – and wants more success.

Maybe even the John Jacobs Trophy for money-list honours? He’s finished runner-up twice and third twice as well, so, why not?

“I certainly want to win at least once every year. But I’m getting older, and you’ve got to compete with the younger guys are coming through. I suppose with some of the guys, the older they get, the greater the chance that they might lose some motivation. But I don’t seem to have lost it yet. I turn 58 this year and I absolutely love the competitiveness and I miss it when I don’t have it.”

So much so the 1993 Ryder Cupper spent much of last month in the U.S. warming up for Sharjah.

From 27 C to -1 C.
Feels a little Chilly pic.twitter.com/yc8Rkecv5x

— Barry Lane (@BazLane) February 20, 2018

“It’s been a while since last year’s final event in Mauritius in December [he was defending champion after winning the MCB Tour Championship in 2016] so I kept myself busy by heading over to America for three weeks in February to play some golf. I escaped the cold weather in England and managed to qualify for the Chubb Classic on the PGA Tour Champions and played well for the last two rounds there shooting 68-67. I literally played golf every day while I was in the States so when I came back to England I made sure I got plenty of rest before heading to Sharjah.”

“It’s a lovely golf course [in Sharjah] and the facilities are fantastic. Last year the course itself was in great condition and it was a really enjoyable week. I got off to a good start but gave some shots back on the back nine of the second day and fell out of contention. I’m looking forward to playing the course again and I hope to play better this time around.”

Entry to this year’s Sharjah Senior Golf Masters is free of charge.

Winning titles ?
Playing in the @rydercup ?
Having a shot at 5⃣9⃣

We caught up with @BazLane https://t.co/6xIGeldmPv

— Staysure Tour (@StaysureTour) February 23, 2018

The post Plugging away in a slightly slower Lane appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Last week the Staysure Tour chief executive officer traded in his suit and tie for a caddy bib and shorts at steamy Coffs Harbour Golf Club as his 23-year-old daughter Meghan captured the Women’s New South Wales Open for her maiden Ladies European Tour title.

sometimes I know how to use words… but not right now ?? pic.twitter.com/6vALAU1dWQ

— Meghan MacLaren (@meg_maclaren) March 4, 2018

This week the proudest Dad in golf is back in business mode at the 2nd Sharjah Senior Golf Masters and just as (and justifiably so) chuffed with the progress of the Staysure Tour as the circuit formerly known as the European Senior Tour prepares for it’s 2018 season bow.

A year ago the Englishman turned up to Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club having inherited one of the toughest sales jobs in golf as the new boss of the embattled over 50s circuit, replacing Andy Stubbs. Leading players, Italian Ryder Cup star Costantino Rocca the most vocal among them, were openly critical of the lack of (particularly early season) playing opportunities but MacLaren soothed fears by calmly seeking time to ease into the role and get his new house in order.

He’s over delivered on his early promises too – securing a first ever title sponsor for the European seniors in UK-based over 50s travel insurance provider Staysure as well as tagging no fewer than five new events onto last year’s schedule to bring it up to a tentative 20 events.

Tristan Jones / LET

While MacLaren was happy to loop away in the background in Australia last week, he’s the focus of all the early plaudits in Sharjah.

Said Ryder Cupper Barry Lane, a five-time European Tour winner and winner of six Staysure Tour titles: “David MacLaren has the Tour moving in the right direction and I think he’s doing a fantastic job.

“It was a great move by [European Tour supremo] Keith Pelley to put him in charge. David has fresh eyes and a fresh mind. He’s put his life and soul into the Staysure Tour and it’s been an amazing success.”

South African Chris Williams, the defending champion this week, was just as effusive. “David MacLaren is doing an excellent job as head of the newly named Staysure Tour. He’s a good communicator and he seems to have created an ideal relationship with the players, sponsors and spectators. He appreciates that there is a need to give something back to the sponsors who support the tournaments, particularly in regard to the Pro-Ams.

Related: Williams ready for Sharjah encore

“Having Staysure as the sponsor of the Senior Tour has certainly elevated things. It’s the first time the Senior Tour has had a sponsor and it has certainly given the Tour more credibility and a more solid financial standing.”

For his part, MacLaren insists the Staysure Tour is still very much a work in progress. But he’s pleased to have secured Staysure and delighted they will also be naming sponsors of one of the five new events – the revival of the flagship PGA Seniors Championship scheduled for Aug. 2-5 at The London G.C. in Kent. As well as the other new tournaments earmarked for Denmark, South Africa, Moscow and Spain, he’s also keenly anticipating the Senior Open’s return to the Old Course at St. Andrews in late July as a profile booster.

“While it is very easy to paint this as a huge rosy and encouraging picture and I think it is, I wouldn’t ever want to minimise the work that is required to make sure we maintain that momentum,” said MacLaren.

“Everyday brings a new challenge and you realise in this type of role that every single tournament, both new and existing, requires a lot of attention and a lot of respect and a lot of hard work. Just because we are able to create new events doesn’t mean we can’t spend just as much time making sure that our current events are happy events with happy sponsors.

“At the same time, the great thing for our current events is that they have seen growth and also obviously seen we’ve been able to bring in a title sponsor for the tour and that just gives everybody confidence. That confidence permeates through from sponsors to promoters, to staff, to players to spectators.

“But yes the progress, I guess, has been even more rapid than I could have hoped for and I think that is a testimony that everybody has brought into the strategy.”

But lets forget business for a moment and reflect on Meghan’s glory as she outlasted rookies Casey Danielson (USA) and Marita Engzelius (Norway) and Spaniard Silvia Bañon for her first victory in just her 11th LET start. It was no fluke of course – she won two titles on the LET Access Series as well as the developmental tour’s order of merit in 2017 and previously secured the winning Curtis Cup points as one of her final amateur acts in 2015. Still, it was clearly a very sweet moment for proud parents David and Mary, the latter a former Irish international who is currently playing the Spanish Senior Amateur.

“You just never know with golf and whether it is your daughter or it is somebody on the Staysure Tour, golf I think is the most incredibly unpredictable sport,” said MacLaren.

“If you take Meghan, she had gone out to Australia on the back of a very good first year as a professional, so she was looking forward to year two, goes out to Australia with a lot of confidence and promptly misses the first two cuts in the first two events. In the third event she’s 99 percent certain to miss again by a shot as well and things change and she ends up making the cut by a couple of shots, finishes 50th or something and it just seems like it is momentum, but very gentle momentum.

“She said, if only she’d known two or three weeks previous what was about to happen, then it would have been easier to deal with the time when it wasn’t quite going as well as she expected, but that’s golf.”

The final round, when Meghan lead by as many as four, was a rollercoaster for daughter and dad.

“The other thing that interested me about last week is I’ve never seen her play golf like that before, and as an un-objective father I can’t remember seeing anybody playing golf like that before and therefore you got into this mindset where it just looked like she was going to win by six, seven, eight shots. And then, what always happens in golf, just something, sometimes it’s dramatic but sometimes its imperceptible, and the whole thing tightens up.

“She was never six or seven shots ahead but that was what it looked like she was going to be and then all of the sudden that became three or four, and then all of the sudden it’s only two shots. And then of course, I dunno what her mindset was, I can only talk about mine, but you’re thinking about all sorts of things. So for her to then get over the line, the immediate emotion is not elation at all, it’s just relief [laughs] and then eventually it becomes huge pride in what she did. So yeah, it’s been quite a rollercoaster.”

It is, indeed, great to be riding the MacLaren train right now.

This is cool @DavidMGolf!

Some inspiring words for the #WomensNSWOpen champion ?@meg_maclaren from @garyplayer back in 2015 https://t.co/P07aVKzLFj

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) March 6, 2018

The post David MacLaren is the father and facilitator of good golfing things appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Steven Kelbrick most definitely subscribes to the theory that life begins at 50, in a golfing sense at least.

The Dubai-based Brit’s second coming in amateur golf continues at this month’s 2nd Sharjah Senior Golf Masters where he’ll trade putts, and hopefully trade secrets, with a field containing 14 former European Ryder Cuppers. Kelbrick qualified for the Staysure Tour (formerly European Senior Tour) event last month and cannot wait to return to Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club to see how his +2 handicap stacks up against legends of old.

His ultimate dream is a promised but not guaranteed round with U.S. legend Tom Watson on the Old Course at St. Andrews this summer. But before we get to that potential holy-grail moment at the home of golf, the oil and gas trader’s journey to Sharjah is worthy of a recap.

Kelbrick fashioned quite the record during his junior days, playing county golf for Cheshire, the prestigious Peter McEvoy and Carris trophies (under-18) before captaining England Universities in home internationals during a collegiate career that saw him help the University of Liverpool capture a pair each of team matchplay and strokeplay titles.

As often the case, career and family commitments put competitive golf on the backburner, at least until the now dual Trump International Golf Club, Dubai and Royal Liverpool member shifted to the UAE from Switzerland 4½ years ago. A little help from now Yas Links-based coach Matthew Parker and Arabian Ranches putting guru Malcolm Young helped reignite the competitive fires and when he turned 50 last June, the game really changed.

“It opened up a whole new world,” Kelbrick said of cracking the half-century. “It opens up all the national senior opens apart from the British Senior Amateur which you can’t play until you’re 55 for some reason. It’s competitive and I’ve had a couple of decent years so I just want to build on it.”

Kelbrick has already tested the 50+ waters, finishing a tidy 14th at the European Senior Masters in Austria last summer before he went on to upstage the whippersnappers to clinch the 2016-17 Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) Order of Merit title. He also came within a shot of qualifying for The Senior Open at Royal Porthcawl. Those results combined have given Kelbrick the confidence he can compete at the top echelons.

Which gets us back to this year’s Senior Open at St. Andrews and that Watson wish. Kelbrick, who coincidently sponsors European Tour players Haydn Porteous. Lucas Bjerregaard and Paul Waring though his third share in the SwingFit Performance Academy in South Africa, has been promised a practice round with his boyhood hero if he qualifies for the July 26-29 major.

“I first saw him play at Royal Troon in ’82 when he beat Nick Price [to hoist the Claret Jug for the fourth of five times] and from that day on…it’s just the way he’s lived his life, conducted himself,” said Kelbrick of eight-time major champion Watson.

“I’ve had the chance to meet him twice but I’ve never played with him. He’s a hero as man and as for his golf, his record speaks for itself.”

But first things first though. Let’s focus on those 54 precious holes at Sharjah.

“My goal for Sharjah? Well, there’s no cut, so just show, confirm to myself, that I can compete with some of these boys. If I get anything like mid-field, I’d be thrilled. If I can shoot three 72s – I shot 75 in qualifying with two doubles and 73 with a triple the day before – I think that will be a good performance.”

It would certainly set Kelbrick up nicely for his second shot at the Senior Open.

“If I do qualify, I said to Brendan [Taylor, Executive VP, Golf (EMEA) for sports marketing and talent management company Wasserman] to bring the tissues. It’ll be five hours of tears, I would be useless,” says Kelbrick.

Don’t be fooled. Kelbrick might be misty eyed, but good golf begins at 50, remember.

The post Meet the Dubai amateur chasing a St. Andrews play date with Tom Watson…via Sharjah appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Rewind 12 months to the eve of the inaugural Sharjah Senior Golf Masters and Chris Williams seriously doubted if he had the mental fortitude to win again. He’d recorded 39 top-10s in eight seasons on the Staysure Tour (formerly European Senior Tour) – nine of them podium finishes – and yet had only once converted for the silverware, at the 2011 Brunei Senior Masters. It got to the point where the only final round surprise was when, not if, he would stumble down the stretch.

But on Saturday at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club last March, Williams held his nerve to bury the demons as he edged Gary Marks in sudden death.

Related: Williams beats his inner demons to win inaugural Sharjah Seniors title

“Words fail me,” the now 58-year-old South African said at the time. Fast-forward 12 months and the disbelief has given way to understandable pride.

“It was a good feeling and something [extra] special to create history, winning the first European Tour-sanctioned event ever held on a nine hole golf course. It was a unique event and a completely new experience to play a Tour event on a nine-hole course, but I guess in playing nine holes twice I got to know the course a little better than an 18-hole layout. It’s always good to win a play-off too. You never know what might happen when you’re playing extra holes.”

South African Chris Williams celebrates at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club

The victory spurred Williams on to his most successful seniors circuit season since 2010 as he finished runner-up to American Clark Dennis in the Order of Merit race. He’s looking forward to refreshing old friendships in Sharjah but there is more fighting talk than a year ago.

Related: Dennis a happily marked man in Sharjah

“As Senior Tour players we get to know each other over the years, unlike the main Tours. We see each other just about every week during the season and we make friends over many years. We enjoy the atmosphere and the interaction between players and spectators but there is always a competitive edge to the tournaments.

“We are certainly out here to enjoy ourselves but we are here to win a golf tournament. That’s our focus and that’s our target. It’s an enjoyment to play well and be in contention and it’s most enjoyable to win. When I won in Sharjah last year, in a play-off with Gary Marks, it took a lot of pressure off me and gave me the impetus to have a really good season.

“I’ve been having a good time at home in South Africa over the last few months and I’ve kept fit by practicing almost every day and playing in a few Pro-Ams. I won a Pro-Am just recently so maybe that’s a good omen for me to hold on to my title and retain the Sharjah Senior Golf Masters trophy.”

The post Williams ready for Sharjah encore appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
All good things come to an end eventually but Roger Chapman is far from done even if his Champions Tour status is dusted.

The Kenyan-born, Ascot-based Englishman’s five-year exemption on the U.S. senior circuit, courtesy of his back-to-back major wins at the 2012 Senior PGA Championship and U.S. Seniors Open, expired last July. The 58-year-old saw out the season in America but there was no late Schwab Cup surge to secure a U.S. stay-of execution as he finished 79th placing in the standings with $111,628.

Fortunately, the PGA Tour Champions loss is the Staysure Tour’s fulltime gain with Chapman committing to the former European Senior Tour in 2018, starting with the $425,000 Sharjah Senior Golf Masters from Thursday.

“It was nice to come back to Europe and play [last year]. It was a good change to travel on a Wednesday and come back on a Sunday night, whereas in America, Cathy, my wife, and I would travel from April until July – three months living out of a suitcase,” said Chapman.

Related: Dennis a happily marked man heading into Sharjah

“We had a good 5-6 years out in the States but it’s nice to come back to Europe and play with my good friends again. I was always a bit more relaxed playing in Europe. I was playing a bit better and got some confidence going and played OK.”

Four top-5 finishes and another three top-15s in 11 starts last year saw Chapman claim13th place in the Staysure Order-of-Merit with €110,338. One of those top-5s was in the season opener at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club and has Chapman eyeing loftier goals in 2018.

“I’m aiming for a top five finish on the Order of Merit and now that I’m committed to playing a full [Staysure Tour] schedule I believe that’s within my grasp,” he said.

“I really enjoyed the tournament last year. None of the players really knew what to expect with it being held on a nine-hole course but I thought the layout was very good, the holes were great, the variation on tee positions on the par-3s and par-5s made it feel different on each nine and it was a good test of golf.”

Chapman banked in excess of $2.5 million in the past five years in the U.S. but $1 million of that came in his breakout year of 2012 when he finished 4th on the money-list; his next best season with 49th in 2014. Before the 50+ retirement plan, the 1979 English Amateur Champion finished in the top-100 of the European Tour in 19 of 21 campaigns spanning two decades but managed only one win, the Brazil Rio de Janeiro 500 Years Open in 2000 when he edged Padraig Harrington in a playoff.

His major wins likewise came over quality opposition; he beat American John Cook by two strokes for the PGA title and Fred Funk, Bernhard Langer, Tom Lehman and Corey Pavin by the same margin at the U.S. Senior Open.

Chapman headed to Dubai early to sharpen his game at the European Tour Performance Institute at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

“I had a couple of visits from my coach, Gary Nicol, who came down from Scotland and I have hit a few balls but the weather in the UK hasn’t been much good. Being in Dubai gives me the chance to get some sun on my back before I go over to Sharjah for the tournament. I’m looking forward to competing again and seeing how the tournament plays second time around.”

Related: McGinley one of 14 former Ryder Cuppers confirmed for Sharjah

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