Marjane The First Arab To Win A MENA Golf Tour Event
The inevitable finally happened when Morocco’s Ahmed Marjane held his nerve to become the first golfer from the Arab world to win a MENA Golf Tour event at the Ras Al Khaimah Classic on Wednesday.
One shot off the pace going into the final round and playing in the fifth last group, Marjane posted a three-under-par 69 at Tower Links Golf Club for an eight-under-par total of 208 that stood up as the overnight joint leaders all faded out of contention as the day wore on.
It may have taken three years and 26 events before a MENA national inscribed his name on a MENA Golf Tour trophy, but they have been knocking on the door for a long time with Faycal Serghini, in particular, racking up three runner-up finishes.
It was only fitting that the honour of winning the first MENA Golf Tour by a MENA national fell to Marjane, who was thrust into the spotlight when he won the tour’s Order of Merit title as an amateur in the inaugural edition of the tour in 2011. Promotion to the professional ranks followed this year and his dedication has been rewarded.
Wales’ Cennydd Mills had a chance to force a playoff, but missed his 10-yard birdie on the closing hole, finishing on seven-under for a share of second with England’s Stuart Archibald, Xavier Puig of Spain and Scotland’s Daniel Kay.
Kay, however, had every reason to smile as he emerged as the deserved winner of the amateur division, two shots ahead of Morocco’s Yassine Touhami with Switzerland’s Michael Harradine taking third on under 214.
“It feels really great to get my breakthrough win on the MENA Golf Tour,” said a jubilant Marjane after receiving the winner’s trophy and a cheque for $9,000 from Mohammed Al Musharrekh, a former Board member of the Emirates Golf Federation. Mohamed Juma Buamaim, chairman of the MENA Golf Tour, was also present.
“I always play well under pressure. Four birdies and just one bogey on my card shows I was in control of the proceedings out there. The idea was make as many birdies as possible. If I had holed all my putts from three yards, I would have easily finished 12 under.
“No regrets. Being the first from the MENA region to win a MENA Golf Tour tournament, I couldn’t have asked for better. It made the win just memorable. I am grateful to golf in DUBAi for their support in shaping my career,” said 22-year-old, who was invited to Dubai for a five-week intensive training stint to fine tune his skills as part of the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation scholarship in 2012.
Meanwhile, overnight joint leader Peter Stojanovski closed with a level-par 72 to settle for third on six under along with Mexico’s Juan Salcedo and England’s Joshua White, who shot a final round 67.
Spain’s Antonio Arjona Bueno carded the day’s best score, a 66, to move into a tie for ninth place with the Moroccan duo of Faycal Serghini and Touhami.
UAE’s Ahmed Al Musharrekh slipped to 23rd place from joint first overnight after carding a final round 77. “It just wasn’t my day. Nothing worked. But I am taking a lot of positives from the tournament. It felt good when I walked off the course after the second round to see my name atop the leaderboard.
“This has motivated me to work harder on my game, which I will do.”
Emirate: Ras Al Khaimah
Date: Oct 8, 2014
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