Ex-European Tour player Joel Girrbach has spent three months away from the game, working with his South African coach, before firing a 66 to lead the Royal Golf Club Bahrain Open

SWITZERLAND’S Joel Girrbach, playing his first competitive round in three months on the MENA Tour after losing his European Tour card, shot a six-under par 66 to lead the Royal Golf Club Bahrain Open.

The 26-year-old Swiss pro was even-par for his round after successive bogeys on the seventh and eighth holes.

But Girrbach covered his last 10 holes in six-under par to join Germany’s Max Kramer and Yorkshire’s David Hague at the top of the leaderboard.

Girrbach – who graduated from the European Challenge Tour at the end of 2018 before finishing 229^th on last season’s Race to Dubai and losing his card – took nearly three months off from competitive golf to get his game back in shape.

That hiatus included a long trip to South Africa to work with his coach Dougie Wood.

Girrbach said: “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,” added 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-four 10^th, and nearly drove the green on the 11^th. Those two birdies were a good start to the back nine and I just continued from there.”

Germany’s Max Kramer had to stop playing after being diagonosed with an arrhythmic heart beat last season, which restricted him to just four tournaments on the EuroPro Tour

Kramer recovers from heart scare

DAVID Hague, who turned pro after MENA Tour Qualifying School and finished runner-up at the NewGiza Open in Cairo, had an even better recovery.

Last year’s Lee Westwood Trophy winner was one-over par after eight holes and then made five birdies and a spectacular holed-out eagle from the fairway bunker on the 17^th hole.

However, it was 36-year-old Kramer who had the most remarkable story of the day.

The Dusseldorf-based player was diagnosed with an arrhythmic heart last year and stopped playing after just four events in 2019.

While trying to make a comeback, he was seven-under par through 10 holes with two eagles, before losing steam towards the end of his round.

Kramer was just happy to be back on the golf course after surviving a health scare last year that restricted his schedule to just four tournaments on the EuroPro Tour.

“I had played a few events at the start of 2019, but I wasn’t feeling very good,” said Kraymer.

“I went to the doctor and they found out I had arrhythmia of heart. 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,” said the German who was part of the national team alongside two-time major champion Martin Kaymer.

“It was an amazing round for me. I was seven-under par through the first 10 holes with an eagle on the third and par-four 10^th holes.

“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.

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

“I drove it really well all day and kept it in play even though I did not start that well,” said the former England amateur international from Malton & Norton Golf Club, near York.

“I 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,” added Hague.

“The eagle on 17 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 after a 67, while there was a group of six players on 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 after a one-under par 71.

•To follow live scoring in round two in Bahrain, click here.

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Bailey Gill receives his trophy from Ziyad Al Zubair, after winning the MENA Tour’s Ghala Open with two Houdini-like efforts to get up and down for birdie on the last two holes

LINDRICK’S Bailey Gill made two stunning birdies from almost impossible positions in his last two holes to claim his maiden pro victory and deny Berkshire’s David Langley a second MENA Tour victory in 2020 at the Ghala Open, in Oman.

The former England amateur international beat roommate and Journey to Jordan No. 1 champion David Langley by one shot, in the Omani capital Muscat.

Gill, who hails from Worksop, in Nottinghamshire, like Lee Westwood – but who is a member at Lindrick Golf Club, just over the Yorkshire border – was one behind leader Scot Craig Ross on the 16th tee.

Gill finished with three birdies in a row, including spectacular chips on the 17th and 18th holes to within a couple of feet for a 16-under par finish.

Gill, who was also a member of England’s Raymond Trophy winning team in Lahinch, in September, was one shot behind the leader going into last week’s final round of the inaugural NewGiza Open, in Cairo, but finished tied 12^th.

But Gill was not to be denied this week as he compiled a bogey-free round, that included five birdies in the last six holes.

The highlights were the ones on the 17th and 18th.

On the penultimate hole of the course, the left-hander pushed his drive and was faced with a difficult chip shot over the bunker with very little space to stop the ball.

On the 18th, he hit his tee shot left again and could barely see the flag from the desert area.

Left-hander Bailey Gill, from Lindrick, produced five birdies in his last six holes to deny David Langley – the winner of Journey to Jordan No. 1 – a spot in next week’s Oman Open

On both occasions, the 2016 Welsh Open Youths Strokeplay Champion hit his chips stone dead.

“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,” said Gill.

“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 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.”

Langley bounce back after bad start

LANGLEY, who was looking for his second win of the season, was two-over par at the turn for the day.

But the Castle Royle ace, who was a member of the same Home Internationals team as Gill at Conwy GC, in 2018, went about his back nine in seven-under to finish second on 15-under.

The overnight leader started with a double bogey, but caught fire on the back nine, where he made a 20-footer eagle putt from the fringe on the 10th after nearly driving the green.

“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 – 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-five 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 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.”

Kirkhill’s Craig Ross finished third

Bailey Gill gets into the Oman Open at nearby Al Mouj next week as the Ghala Open while the leader at the halfway stage in the Journey to Jordan Order of Merit earns a spot in the Hassan Trophee II, in Morocco, in early June.

Ross, looking for his first win on the MENA Tour, made a superb par save on the 17^th.

But the EuroPro Tour winner paid the price for a wayward tee shot on the 18th to make a double bogey that dropped him down to 12-under and back into third place.

Ross collected a cheque for $6000 and moved up to sixth on the Journey to Jordan Order of Merit, after the first three events of the season.

Sam Locke – the 2017 Scottish Amateur Champion – was also in the hunt after reaching the turn in four-under. But his challenge faded as he came home in 39, making bogeys at the 12th, 14th and 16th.

•For final scores at the Ghala Open, click here.

Indian Arjun Gupta, who is based in Dubai, produced his best-ever MENA Tour finish

Gupta records best-ever MENA Tour finish

INDIA’S Dubai-based amateur Arjun Gupta recorded his best finish on the MENA Tour courtesy of a bogey-free closing round of 66.

He finished in fourth on 11-under, one ahead of Northamptonshire County’s Ben Jones – the runner-up in last year’s Amateur Championship, who closed with a 66 as well.

Jones was tied fifth alongside Kent’s Alfie Plant (71), Middlesex’s Pavan Sagoo (71) and Essex’s Curtis Knipes (68) along with Ireland’s Walker Cup player Paul McBride (66).

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 points.

“I am happy with my finish. The whole week my short game and my putting was very good,” said Gupta.

“I could have probably driven the ball a bit better, but I can’t complain after such a finish,” added the Dubai-born pro, who is coached by Jamie McConnell at the Claude Harmon Performance Institute.

“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,” said Gupta.

•The MENA Tour moves to Bahrain for the fourth leg of the 2020 season at the Royal Golf Club Bahrain Open from February 24-26.

The post Bailey Gill claims his maiden MENA Tour win in Oman to earn European Tour start appeared first on Golf North.

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.

The post Castle Royle’s Langley lines up second MENA Tour in a fortnight with 65 in Oman appeared first on Golf North.

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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