Castle Royle’s David Langley leads the Ghala Open, in Oman, after a seven-under par 65 in the second round in Muscat. But there are five players just a shot behind with a round to go

WITH a spectacular slam-dunk eagle the highlight in his card of seven-under par 65, Castle Royle’s David Langley moved into contention for a possible second title in three weeks on the MENA Tour, in Oman.

The 25-year-old from Marlow, playing in his first full season as a professional, won the Tour’s season-opening Journey to Jordan No. 1 by four shots two weeks ago.

And the former England international will go into the final round of the $75,000 Ghala Open leading by one shot at 10-under par.

Langley, who was named in the provisional Walker Cup squad for the clash with the USA at Hoylake, did a fantastic job of front-running at Ayla Golf Club.

Langley started from the 10th and after a par on his first hole, he holed out his second shot from 84 yards on the par-four 11th – the ball disappearing after pitching right in the hole.

The only bogey of his round came soon after on the 14th hole, but after hitting 16 greens in regulation, he was never in any major trouble after that and also picked up shots on all four par-fives.

“It was a pretty good day,” said Langley, whose maiden win came within weeks of losing his father.

“When you start with an eagle like that, it’s always good,” added Langley.

“I flew it straight into the hole and I feel sorry because I damaged the cup a bit.

“Made a silly error on the 14^th, and missed a short birdie putt on the 17^th, but apart from that, it was solid golf,” said Langley, who moved up to No. 1187 in the world rankings after his win in Jordan.

“I feel confident. I am swinging it really well. 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.”

But with five players just one shot behind, including the 2017 Open Championship Silver medalist Alfie Plant (68), it will make for an exciting afternoon at Ghala Golf Club on Wednesday.

Kent’s Alfie Plant who was just one shot behind David Langley in the Ghala Open

Also at nine-under par were the English trio of Pavan Sagoo (67), from Middlesex, Wentworth’s Jake Ayres (68) and Lindrick’s Bailey Gill (67) plus Scotland’s Craig Ross (67), from Kirkhill Golf Club, a winner on the EuroPro Tour two years ago.

The resurgent Sagoo, from Ealing, was unfortunate to make a double bogey with a wayward tee shot coming in on the par-four seventh hole.

Another recent champion, Sebastien Gros was also lurking dangerously after a second straight 68 which left the Frenchman alone on eighth place at eight-under par.

Meanwhile overnight leader and fellow Frenchman Antoine Schwartz (71) was three behind as he attempts to win back-to-back.

Former Scottish Amateur Champion Sam Locke (70), the Silver Medallist as the low amateur at the 2018 Open, and Yorkshire’s in-form David Hague (68) were also three behind the leader at seven-under.

India’s Arjun Gupta was the leading amateur after the second round, courtesy a splendid 67 that took him up to tied 16th place, two ahead of Russian 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.

The Ghala Open champion gets an added bonus in the form of a spot in next week’s $1.75 million Oman Open on the European Tour.

•For live scoring in the Ghala Open, in Oman, click here.

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Antoine Schwartz shot a bogey-free 66 to lead the MENA Tour’s Ghala Open in Omen, less than a week after his best friend Sebastien Gros claimed victory in the NewGisa Open

LESS than a week after his best friend won a title on the MENA Tour, Frenchman Antoine Schwartz was enjoying the rub-on effect as he took sole possession of lead after the opening round of the Ghala Open on Monday.

The 30-year-old from Suresnes, near Paris, posted a bogey-free six-under par 66 and was leading a bunch of exciting young talent by a shot after a five-under par 67.

That cosmopolitan group included two Open Championship Silver medalists – Kent’s Alfie Plant and Scotland’s Sam Locke – Russian amateur Ivan Striganov, American Kevin Rhoderick, Ireland’s Paul McBride and Wentworth’s Jake Ayres.

Schwartz’s best friend Sebastien Gros, winner of last week’s NewGiza Open, in Cairo, and a former European Tour star, shot a 68 and was tied eighth along with six other players.

At the Ghala Golf Club, Schwartz started the day on the 10th tee and picked up shots on the 15th, 18th and second holes, before making an eagle on the par-five fourth, where he stiffed a three-iron from 258 yards to four feet.

Schwartz then made another gain on the seventh hole to post the leading total on the first day in Oman.

“It was a very good round,” said Schwartz, who had shot a 10-under 62 on the MENA Tour last year in Dubai Hills.

“I hit the ball solid and even though I missed a few other birdie chances, you cannot be disappointed with a 66. There are always going to be a few putts that you are going to miss,”

“Sebastien is my best friend and it is always good to see your best friend do well. We both have the same status on the Challenge Tour and we will not get many starts before May.

“So we got talking and I told him that instead of staying in France, he needed to try the MENA Tour because it is an amazing Tour with very good weather, very good golf courses and very good competition.

“So, he came and won in his second event. I am waiting for my share of the prize money!”

Plant, the Silver Medal winner as the low amateur at the 2017 Open at Royal Birkdale, and Locke – the low amateur 12 months later at Carnoustie – were paired together and took different routes to their 67s.

Kent’s Alfie Plant shot 30 on the back nine having started with a triple-bogey seven to card a 67 and end up in. a six-way share of second place at Oman’s Ghala Golf Club

Plant’s round included a triple-bogey seven on the par-four eighth hole before he had a sizzling back nine coming home in just 30.

Locke was bogey-free after saving a courageous par on the final hole where he drove it into some wispy bushes, then chipped out backwards and made his up-and-down with a putt from 12 feet.

“I played very steady today and was bogey-free,” said Locke. “Managed to save a good par in the end, which is always nice. Just need to get my wedges closer tomorrow and it can be even better.”

Plant, who had a successful season on the EuroPro Tour in 2019 earning a card on the Challenge Tour said: “My day was all right.

“Had a triple in there, which is always nice to see. But I bounced back well from that and had a chance to shoot 29 on the back nine, but missed a short putt on the last.”

Striganov, a 16-year-old from Moscow, was delighted with his round that included two bogeys and was his second-best round in a competition.

“I shot a seven-under par in Portugal recently. But this was very nice because I made seven birdies and did not make too many mistakes and played really well,” said Striganov.

Dubai-based 15-year-old Josh Hill, the reigning Amateur Journey to Jordan champion, shot an even-par 72 after hitting his first tee shot out of bounds.

Professional Journey to Jordan champion, MG Keyser, from South Africa, started with a two-under par 70.

•For second round scores in Oman click here.

Scotland’s Sam Locke one of six players in second place in the MENA Tour’s Ghala Open

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Sweden’s 43-year-old European Tour winner claimed the PGA EuroPro Tour Championship with a play-off win over Essex’s James Allan, at Desert Springs GC, in Spain.

SWEDEN’S former European Tour Mikael Lundberg beat Essex’s James Allen in a play-off to claim the 2019 PGA EuroPro Tour Championships 2019 at Desert Springs.

Lundberg had to survive three holes of sudden-death before he could clinch the season-ending tournament – and the Order of Merit title – thanks to his second EuroPro win of the season.

It has been a long road back for the 46-year-old playing in his first season on the feeder Tour, since losing his playing privileges at the top level back in 2016.

Lundberg, who won three times on the European Tour between 1999 and 2014 said: “This is just amazing. It’s something you dream of.

“It’s not something you can really predict. You are hoping for it and it’s at the back of your mind. But the guys are too good.

“Once you get to this level you realise they’re pretty good.”

“But someone has to win it and when I pulled it off and when I play my game at my best I can still compete against them.”

Allan, from Chelmsford Golf Club, showed resilience throughout after going into the day leading.

Allan, who won the Abu Dhabi Open on the MENA Tour in October, knew he had to birdie 17 and 18 to force a playoff.

But that was exactly what the 25-year-old, who is coached by Robert Rock Academy’s Benn Barham, achieved.

Allan and Lundberg went toe-to-toe twice down the 18^th but could not be separated with the pair making bogeys and then pars.

At the third time of asking Lundberg found the greenside bunker, but played an exquisite shot to within a couple of feet.

Allan missed his par putt opening the door for Lundberg to seal the win and a cheque for £22,540, leaving Allan with the consolation of the £11.270 cheque for second.

It was a stellar week for Lundberg who broke par 18 times over the course of the week and he felt the wind suited his game.

“I have a slightly lower ball flight,” added Lundberg, who won the Russian Open twice in 2005 and 2008, now has a card for the European Challenge Tour in 2020, having won three times at that level as well.

“I’ve always been very good in wind,” revealed Lundberg, who has won €2.8million in prize money in his European Tour career over 20 years, playing in 337 events.

“It’s not about hitting the best shots and not making mistakes where I am better instead of pulling off some fancy shots,” said the Swede.

“I love the wind. I always hope it’s going to be up as much as possible,” added Mikael, who won the EuroPro’s World Snooker Championship tournament at Newbury’s Donnington Grove, back in June.

“Last year I had really big problems with my motivation but this year it came back – and it helps, of course, winning the third event.

“I’ve enjoyed playing golf again and on this tour.”

Lundberg, who is attached to Lumine Golf Club, which will host the final stage of the European Tour Qualifying School next month, will now head to stage two – also being held in Spain – next week, with a chance to regain his full card.

The Swede signed for rounds of 64, 73 and 69 to force a play-off after leading on the opening day thanks to a sparkling eight-under par 64.

On a day where the lead swung, Allan seized an early advantage through nine holes before being pegged back midway through the afternoon after getting in trouble on the 11th.

Meanwhile, Lundberg was level through the front nine before picking up vital birdies on 15 and 16 to drag out a two-shot lead over Allan who was playing in a group back.

Elsewhere, Falkirk GC’s Ryan Campbell had a stellar final day to tie for third after signing for a five-under par 67 after posting rounds of 75 and 66.

Hillside’s Former England U16 international Oliver Clarke finished alongside him as the 2016 Darwin Salver winner posted 72, 65 and 71 for his best finish of the season.

Mearns Castle’s Conor O’Neil was fifth on seven-under with Harrogate’s former European Tour winner John Parry, Kedleston’s former England international Bradley Moore and Kingsbarn Pro Academy’s Daniel were all tied for sixth.

PGA EuroPro Tour Order of Merit graduates (left to right): Mikael Lundberg, Alfie Plant, Marco Penge and Richard Mansell, who all earn cards for the European Challenge Tour

THE four other Challenge Tour cards will go to Staffordshire’s Richard Mansell, Goodwood’s Marco Penge, former European Amateur Champion Alfie Plant and Todd Clements, winner of the English Amateur Championship in 2017.

All four will be joining Lundberg in Spain at the ETQS stage two – should they win a full card on the Challenge Tour at the final stage at Lumine, it will open the door for the players who finished just outside the top five on the EuroPro Order of Merit.

Campbell secured the Cobra Puma Order of Merit in association with Modest Golf! which earns him five Challenge Tour starts next season. 

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Richard Mansell, who won the Cobra Puma NXT LVL Championship at MacDonald Portal Hotel, Golf and Spa, and dedicated his win to friend and sometime caddy Charlie, who suffered a brain haemorrhage and has been left seriously ill in hospital

RICHARD Mansell has won the Cobra Puma NXT LVL Championship by three shots with a final round 69 at MacDonald Portal Hotel, Golf and Spa.

The Beau Desert golfer started the day one shot behind overnight leader Marco Penge, but the Staffordshire ace assumed the lead with a birdie at the opening hole as Penge, from Golf at Goodwood, three-putted for bogey.

Mansell only briefly slipped out of top spot on a tense final day with a double-bogey at the par-five seventh, but he reassumed control of the tournament with a spectacular pitch-in for eagle two holes later.

Mansell – who raised £4,500 last month for a friend who suffered a massive brain haemorrhage – maintained pole position throughout the back nine with birdies at 10, 12 and 17, signing for a closing 69 and a total of 18-under – and then dedicated the win to his friend.

“I did this for my friend Charlie, whose been fighting for his life in hospital,” said an emotional Mansell. “He’s been the 15^th club in my bag over the last few weeks. This feels really special.”

A special day indeed for Mansell, who’s previously recorded three runners-up finishes in his season-and-a-half on the PGA EuroPro Tour, and had his parents and friends on hand in Cheshire to witness his first victory.

Will Enefer, a Cobra Puma NXT LVL academy player from Shropshire, surged through the field with a 67 to claim second place on his own.

Clandeboye’s Jonathan Caldwell, from Ireland, and Wath’s Nicholas Poppleton tied for third on 14-under, while overnight leader Penge – a former England U16 Boys Champion – had to settle for a four-way tie for fifth after a two-over par final round.

Mansell, who shot a 58 three years ago while at Nova SouthEastern University in Florida and was signed up as an amabassador for Ted Baker Golf when he turned pro, leaped six spots to third in the Race to Desert Springs, while Enefer is up to 10^th.

Kent’s Alfie Plant, who finished tied 14^th at Portal, held on to top spot in the Order of Merit, while last week’s winner Andrew Wilson, who took the week off in preparation for the Rockliffe Hall pro’s Open Championship debut next week at Royal Portrush, remains in second.

Visit www.europrotour.com for more information and to see the final leaderboard.

•Mansell was joined by fellow PGA EuroPro player Joe Brooks in their fundraising efforts to help Charlie, who suffered the haemorrhage in the left side of his brain.

Mansell met Charlie nine years ago at the European Father and Sons Championship – and they’ve been close friends ever since.

Charlie caddied for Richard at the first stage of European Tour Qualifying School last year and successfully made it through. Brooks played with Charlie at junior level.

In little over three days, the event was organised and funds raised to help Charlie who had been unconsciousness in hospital.

The pair took on 100 holes at Beau Desert Golf Club last month taking alternate shots as a two-ball to complete it in just over 14-and-a-half-hours.

Mansell explained Charlie’s whole right side of the body had been left paralysed after the haemorrhage occurred in the part of the brain that controls understanding and speech.

Funds raised have been helping Charlie’s parents visit him in hospital.

Mansell explained: “I am hoping we can raise some money for Charlie and his family at this difficult time – whether that be for train fares, hotels, private rehabilitation, or whatever Charlie and his family need, and want to put the money towards going forward.

“They shouldn’t have to think about money at a time like this and it just proves how important life is – and none of us know what is around the corner.”

“He’s just one of them people who brings life to the room and is impossible not to love. He’s always smiling and I want to help get that smile back on his face as soon as possible.”

Mansell said the tragedy had given him perspective on life, adding: “I’ve been guilty in the past – like 99 per cent of the golfers I know – for moaning when we hit bad shots, getting down and acting like it’s the end of the world when we miss a five-footer for par.”

“In reality, it isn’t and this has been a massive reality check for me. What Charlie and his family are going through is real life and it shows how we need to not take any day or moment of time for granted – as we don’t know what’s around the corner.”

A spokesman said: “The PGA EuroPro Tour thoughts and prayers are with Charlie and his family and friends. The tour sends our best wishes in his recovery. ”

As of this week nearly £6,000 has been raised to help Charlie’s family.

•For more information on Charlie’s condition and updates can be found on the GoFundMe donation page.

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Rockliffe Hall’s Andrew Wilson claimed the MotoCaddy Masters at Linden Hall, just three days after landing a place in the 148th Open Championship at Royal Portrush via Final Qualifying after playing eight rounds in seven days.

DARLINGTON’S Andrew Wilson claimed The Motocaddy Masters days after clinching a place at The 146th Open later this month.

Wilson, who is attached to Rockliffe Hall, knew a good round would put him in the mix and posted his second 67 of the week to go five-under for the day to win by one shot.

It was some week for Wilson after playing two rounds of enduring Open qualifying on Tuesday at Notts GC’s Hollinwell. Wilson played his third round of the week at lunchtime on Wednesday in his opening round at Macdonald Linden Hall where he shot five-under.

Wilson said: “It was really tough. The entire day was really tough. I was just happy to finish and even better to win.

“I played here on Sunday for practice then practice round on Monday for Open qualifying, then two rounds on Tuesday –  I don’t know many rounds of golf I’ve had over the last two weeks,” added Wilson, who played at Dudsbury in the EuroPro event as well as the first round of Open Qualifying.

“I didn’t expect to be up there to be honest. I struggled a bit on Thursday. I just sort of held it and my caddy did a really good job.”

He went out in his last round with six birdies and only one bogey to put himself right into contention. Something that seemed unlikely at the start of play.

It wasn’t to be for Richard Mansell, from Beau Desert Golf Club, and Chelmsford’s James Allan, who both ran Wilson close at the end with Mansell finding the water on 18 and Allan going close with a putt that would have tied the former England amateur international and forced a play-off.

Elsewhere, it was nearly the case of deja vu for Kent’s Alfie Plant, who was leading by two shots at one stage on 10-under, as the 2017 European Amateur Champion looked to win back-to-back for the first time in the pro ranks, after his win in The Golfcatcher Championship at Dudsbury, a week earlier.

The Sundridge Park ace, finished tied for second having got to four-under at the turn in his third round, only for the birdies to dry up, and a solitary bogey at the 14th to leave him one shot shy.

Limerick Golf Club’s Tim Rice, who went close in Open Qualifying in Scotland last week, Dunbar’s Neil Fenwick, Boldon’s Rhys Thompson joined Allan, Plant and Mansell on nine-under.

Amateur Matty Lamb, from Hexham Golf Club, gave a good account for himself on the last day carding a level-par 72 to tie for eighth with Falkirk’s Ryan Campbell, Shropshire’s Will Enefer (Retail Furniture) and Tom Gandy, from Rowany  GC on the Isle of Man.

Wilson is taking the week off as the EuroPro heads to the Macdonald Portal Hotel, Golf and Spa, in Cheshire, for The Cobra Puma NXT LVL Championship, which takes place from July 10-12.

Cobra Puma Golf  announced a partnership with player management company Modest! Golf earlier this season under which  13 EuroPro Tour members were hand-picked for the ‘NXT LVL’ academy – wearing and playing Cobra Puma products.

Cobra Puma Golf – who signed a three-year extension to its deal as official equipment, apparel and footwear sponsors of the PGA EuroPro Tour – is following the progress of the ‘NXT LVL’ academy through the 2019 season on social media.

The selected players are eligible for the Cobra Puma Golf Order of merit running alongside the main PGA EuroPro Tour moneylist.

There is a low round bonus, plus five Challenge Tour starts in 2020 up for grabs with Nial Horan’s Modest! Golf management firm having agreed to be partner of the Cobra Puma Golf order of merit.

Cobra Puma Golf marketing manager Craig Verrinder said: “We are extremely excited about the opportunity to work closely with the future talent in the game.

“The EuroPro Tour really is the springboard to the best platforms in the game, and to work with these players in 2019 is a really exciting prospect. To be able to support them further with product, additional bonuses and work through our social media channels is testament of what we think of the players and the tour itself.”

He added: “Further to that, to be able to work with Modest! Golf on the Cobra Puma Golf Order of Merit enables us to use their standing within the game to offer the Challenge Tour invites in the 2020 season.

“We value its support and also how it perceives the future of golf. We would like to take this opportunity to thank both Modest! and the European Challenge Tour in the support they have shown this NXT LVL of players.”

Modest! Golf Management director Mark McDonnell said: ”We are really excited to support Cobra Puma Golf with this initiative. We appreciate that support is hard to come by for a large amount of really talented young golfers looking to make their way in the game.

“The Cobra Puma Golf NXT LVL Academy will give young talented players the support and belief at a point when they most need it.”

Niall Horan, founder and director of Modest! Golf, added: “Our company is all about supporting young talent. The NXT LVL Academy does exactly that, and we are delighted to be able to provide some playing opportunities and hope this will add as an additional incentive for the NXT LVL members.”

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