Anton Karlsson picked up his maiden European Challenge Tour win after finishing three shots clear in the RAM Cape Town Open, at Royal Cape Golf Club. Picture by GETTY IMAGESnto

ANTON Karlsson came from three shots behind to win his maiden European Challenge Tour title at the RAM Cape Town Open.

The Swede carded a three under par round of 69 for a 14-under par total in difficult scoring conditions at Royal Cape Golf Club.

That was enough to jump ahead of a packed leaderboard and record a one-shot victory over South African Garrick Higgo.

Karlsson maintained the momentum from a bogey-free eight-under par 64 in his third round.

The 26-year-old Upsala GC pro reeled off six birdies in seven holes from the seventh hole to move to the top of the leaderboard, before holding off a late charge from Higgo to secure his first victory on the satellite circuit.

“It was one of the toughest days of golf in my career with the conditions,” said Anton Karlsson. “It feels amazing to come out on top and to play some really good golf.

“My only aim this morning was to go out there and win. I was three shots back and I knew I was playing well after a 64 yesterday.

“It was really windy out there, so I knew I just had to be patient and do my thing.

“The opening holes were playing tough and I ended up in the wrong places,” said the Swede, who has lost his European Tour card twice having successfully come through Qualifying School in 2016 and 2018.

“But I really got it going after that, and from the sixth hole it was probably the best stretch of golf I’ve ever played,” added Karlsson.

“It got a bit exciting at the end. I hit every shot as I intended down the 18th hole, but then raced my putt by a little further than I would have liked.

“But it’s always nice to hole a putt to win.”

Higgo started the day six shots behind overnight leader Daniel van Tonder.

But the 20-year-old recorded the best result of his fledgling Challenge Tour career after a five-under par 67 on Sunday.

Higgo finished in second position on 13-under, three shots clear of Sussex’s Toby Tree, who made the most of his decision to forego a place in the field for the European Tour’s Vic Open.

Instead the former England amateur international travelled to familiar territory in South Africa, and signed off with a 71 to secure a top three result.

Hampshire’s former Amateur Champion Harry Ellis, Lincolnshire’s EuroPro Tour graduate Jordan Wrisdale, and Frenchman Damien Perrier, finished one shot further back in a tie for fourth.

Overnight leader van Tonder settled for seventh place, alongside Allen John and Gloucestershire’s EuroPro Tour graduate Mitch Waite on eight-under.

Karlsson, who had four top 10s in his debut season back in 2016, moved into second position on the Road to Mallorca Rankings with his maiden win.

The runner-up in the 2018 KPMG Trophy is just 85 points behind last week’s Limpopo Championship winner JC Ritchie, with Wilco Nienaber occupying third place after the opening two events.

The Challenge Tour now travels to Fancourt Golf Estate, George, for the Dimension Data Pro-Am, which gets under way from February 13-16. See the entry list here.

•For final results in the RAM Cape Town Open click here.

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Switzerland’s Marco Iten, who lost his European Challenge Tour card this month, made two eagles to lead the Ras Al Khaimah Open, on the MENA Tour, on Monday.

SWITZERLAND’S Marco Iten made a stunning debut on the MENA Tour as two eagles on the back nine of Tower Links Golf Club helped him soar to the top of the Ras Al Khaimah Open leaderboard on the opening day.

The 29-year-old, from Zurich, was playing on a special exemption – trying to get some match sharpness ahead of the second stage of next week’s European Tour Qualifying School, in Spain.

And he made the most of the opportunity, with a hot start, followed by a back nine of 30 thanks to his two eagles on his way to an eight-under par 64.

A shot behind the leader were Sweden’s Niclas Weiland and Scotland’s Scott Henry, who both shot 65 playing together in the second group in the morning.

The duo were later joined by EuroPro Tour regular Joshua Grenville-Wood, who holed out from 139 yards to eagle the par-four 15^th.

Australia’s Daniel Gaunt – hoping to make a big move in the Journey To Jordan where the Surrey-based Burhill GC pro is currently second behind leader MG Keyser, from South Africa – opened with a 67 in the United Arab Emirates.

England junior Josh Hill, who created worldwide headlines last week by becoming the youngest winner of an Official World Golf Ranking event, struggled on the greens.

The Dubai-based amateur came home in 78 after missing more than half a dozen par putts from inside the six-eight feet range, emphasising the highs and lows of the game.

Wentworth’s Harry Ellis, who finished second in the last two MENA Tour events to jump into contention on the Journey to Jordan, had to settle for a 69, which left the Hampshire double English and British Amateur Champion five shots behind Iten and down in 15th spot.

Iten started in bright fashion, hitting it to six feet on the first two par fours. Another gain on the par-five fifth was erased by his only bogey of the day on the eighth to make the turn in two-under.

On the back nine, Iten eagled the 13^th when he smashed a three-wood downwind from 290 yards to 20 feet. And on the 18^th he converted a 15-footer, having also made birdies on the 10^th and 15^th.

Iten said: “It was a good day. I got off to a fast start and managed to carry that momentum on to the back nine.=

“I was able to hit both the par-fives in two and make my putts,” added Iten, who lost his card on the European Challenge Tour this year.

“It definitely is a great confidence booster ahead of the second stage of the Q-School next week.

“I can do with a few tournament rounds ahead of that and was looking for a place to play and some of my friends told me how good the MENA Tour is.

“I am thankful for the opportunity and hopefully, we can take the momentum from this round to the next two days.”

Henry, who won Scottish Men’s and Boys’ Strokeplay double as an amateur, was bogey-free in his 65, while Weiland made one bogey.

“It’s always easier when a guy in the group is making all the putts like Niclas did,” said the 32-year-old, who married Scottish LET player Kylie Walker two years and competed against his wife in the Jordan Mixed Open, back in April.

We both played well and I think we fed off each other quite nicely,” said Scotsman Henry, another Challenge Tour regular, who is attached to Loch Lomond’s The Carrick GC.

•To follow scores on the 54-hole Ras Al Khaimah Open click here.

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Dubai-based England junior international Josh Hil claimed the Al Ain Open on the Mena Tour aged just 15.

FORMER Amateur Champion Harry Ellis claimed the first “winner’s cheque” in two years as a pro. But he had to stand and applaud as his push for a first official victory was dashed by Josh Hill, one of England’s hottest amateur prospects, at the latest MENA Tour event.

England junior international Josh Hill, who was born and learned to play golf in Dubai, created history by becoming the youngest-ever winner of an Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) event.

The 15-year-old beat Ellis in the Al Ain Open, at Al Ain Equestrian Shooting and Golf Club, by two shots after posting a 17-under total.

Hill’s final round 62 was five better than overnight leader Ellis, who turned pro after appearing in the Walker Cup at Los Angeles Country Club, in 2017.

Ellis has had two attempts to earn a European Tour card since and has been playing on the Challenge and EuroPro Tour’s in 2019, without any real great success.

But after coming through stage one of this year’s European Tour Qualifying School, playing in Austria last month, he has headed over to the Middle East, and finished second in the MENA Tour’s Abu Dhabi Open.

At least he had the consolation of taking the winner’s cheque of ¢13,500 because of Hill’s amateur status.

Ellis, who was looking for his first win on a recognised Tour event, was disappointed with his runners-up spot, but took it on the chin – and doffed his cap to Hill.

The youngest-ever player to win the English Amateur and Amateur Chmpionship two years ago only made one mistake in 54 holes, making a bogey on the second hole of his final round.

Ellis, a member at Wentworth, said: “I finally made one mistake on this course and then I played solid golf. But all credit to Josh. He played an unbelievable round.

“It was doable in the conditions we had and he did it. I can’t complain about how I played and there are plenty of positives to take from this week,” said the 24-year-old from Hedge End, near Southampton.

Harry Ellis, the 2017 Amateur Champion, picked up the $13,500 cheque as the leading professional having finished second to amateur Josh Hill

Hill admitted the idea of creating golf history like Ellis did with his win at Royal St George’s in 2017 that earned him a place at last year’s Masters, was far from his mind earlier this season.

“I really don’t know what to say right now. I am shocked,” said the teenager who is based in Dubai.“If you had told me during the summer that I will be winning a MENA Tour title against professionals and become the youngest ever winner of an OWGR event, I would have laughed at the notion.

“I guess hard work pays,” said Hill, who is also the youngest member of the England Under-18 squad for 2020. I was struggling in the summer and then something changed in the last MENA Tour event at Yas Links.

“That top-10 finish gave me a lot of confidence and I knew it in my heart that I would do well here in Al Ain because I have such a good history here. I just love this track. I am actually a little disappointed with my finish because I missed so many opportunities coming in.

“I honestly could have broken 60 today. I knew I needed a good start, and once I got it, I just kept hitting one good shot after the other.”

Hill, who was 15 years, six months and 27 days old, broke Ryo Ishikawa’s record as the youngest winner of an official OWGR event. Japan’s ‘Bashful Prince’ was 15 years and eight months when he won the Munsingwear Open KSB Cup, in May 2007.

Hill’s victory came hot on the heels of the MENA win by Peterborough Milton’s Robin Williams – another highly-rated prospect from the England Boys squad.

The 18-year-old who played for Europe in the 2018 Junior Ryder Cup won the Journey to Jordan 2 tournament at the start of October by eight shots.

Hill was three shots behind Ellis with 18 holes to play at Al Ain. A 12-foot putt straight into the heart of the cup on the first hole kick-started the day and Hill never looked back.

A five-footer lipped-out on the par-three but Hill, a member at Trump International Dubai, went on a tear after that. He made four birdies in the next four holes, picking up further strokes on the ninth and 11th to get to seven-under.

That was three ahead of Ellis, who had made the turn at one-under after that early error. Hill’s final birdie of the day came on the 14th , even though he had two more chances from close range after that to improve on his eight-under 62.

Essex amateur Curtis Knipes carded a final round 66 to finish tied in third on 13-under with American Ben Schlottman (65).

Knipes, who qualified for The Open at Royal Portrush in July, went on top of the MENA Amateur Order of Merit with Hill moving into second place.

The leading amateur will receive an entry into the Dubai Desert Classic, at Emirates GC, in January, alongside the top two professionals on the MENA Tour’s Road to Jordan Order of Merit.

There are also opportunities to earn starts in both Asian and other European Tour events in 2020 for MENA Tour members, including the Made in Denmark, Diamond Cup as well as the Indonesian Masters and Open.

The final qualifying event on the Journey to Jordan is the Ras Al Khaimah Open, at Tower Links Golf Club, in the United Arab Emirates, from October 28-30. The Journey to Jordan Final is at Aqaba’s Ayla Golf Club, from November 26-29.

•To see the latest MENA Journey to Jordan Order of Merit click here.

Fifteen-year-old Josh Hill is based in Dubai and knows the Al Ain golf course very well

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Royal Liverpool’s Matthew Jordan, could have been playing in this weekend’s Walker Cup match at his home course Hoylake, but now is heading towards a European Tour card after his first win on the Challenge Tour. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

MATTHEW Jordan is looking to follow in the footsteps of his 2017 Walker Cup teammate Jack Singh Brar by winning the Open de Bretagne, which gets under way at Golf Blue Green de Pléneuf Val André on Thursday morning.

The Englishman is one of several players from the 2017 Great Britain and Ireland squad to achieve success on the Challenge Tour since entering the paid ranks.

The former plus-seven handicapper currently occupies the fifth position on the Road to Mallorca Rankings.

But if he had remained as an amateur for 12 months more, he would have been a locked in pick for the Great Britain and Ireland team that will try to regain the Walker Cup at his home course – Royal Liverpool – this weekend.

With one victory already to his name this season – at the Italian Challenge Open Eneos Motor Oil in June – Jordan is one of three members of the 2017 Walker Cup squad to win on the Challenge Tour so far.

Hampshire Golf junior programme graduate Singh-Brar became the first to do so at the Open de Bretagne 12 months ago, while Connor Syme secured his maiden victory at the 2019 Turkish Airlines Challenge.

It has been a year to remember for the 23-year-old who burst into the spotlight after a spectacular opening round of nine-under par 63 at the Betfred British Masters, where he ultimately finished in a tie for 15th.

With five top 10 finishes on the Challenge Tour this year all focus is now on ensuring that he secures one of the 15 European Tour cards up for grabs on the season-long Road to Mallorca.

‘’I’m trying not to think about the rankings too much,’’ Jordan said. ‘’I’d much rather be in this position than to be chasing.

“This way there’s not too much pressure on each event and I can just keep going along and do my thing. I just need to keep ahead of the game which is what I’ve managed to do since my win in Italy.’’

As the Merseyside native looks to replicate Singh Brar’s victory in Brittany, which helped him secure playing rights on the European Tour for 2019, he will also be able to draw inspiration from another one of his Walker Cup teammates.

Jack Singh-Brar – one of three Hampshire players to have played in the 2017 Walker Cup with Hoylake’s Matthew Jordan – claimed his first pro win in the Open de Bretagne a year ago.
Picture by ANDREW GRIFFIN / AMG PICTURES

Jordan’s playing partner in the Sunday foursomes in LA, Robert MacIntyre, also graduated onto the European Tour following the 2018 Challenge Tour season.

‘’I played with Robert during the Walker Cup and he’s just come on leaps and bounds. I try to have something on him all the time,’’ he joked.

‘’At the moment I can’t really because he’d just come back to me with his European Tour card and his finish at The Open,” said the Hoylake member who was obviously torn about the prospect of playing in the 47th Walker Cup on his home course.

‘’In all seriousness though, it’s great to see the other guys do well. Jack played great last year, and Connor Syme has been putting in some good results as well.

“It’s a treat to see how everyone else is getting on and of course, it keeps you motivated as well. All the guys out here are good though, so there’s always plenty to keep pushing you to improve.’’

Jordan – who won the Lytham Trophy last year before turning pro in September – is likely to have one eye on proceedings across the Channel when GB&I seek revenge for that defeat by United States at Los Angeles Country Club.

‘’I went over to Royal Liverpool on Monday just to chat with the players and offer any advice if they wanted it,” said Jordan, whose breakthrough win as an amateur came at the home of Justin Rose in the 2016 Hampshire Hog at North Hants GC.

“The Walker Cup was such a great experience for me, so it was good to have a little reminisce and chat with the boys before the event gets started,” said Matthew, who played alongside two other Hampshire players in Scott Gregory, and Harry Ellis, the Amateur Champions in 2016 and 2017 respectively.

Meanwhile, at a firm seaside venue that has often produced English winners, Jordan is hoping his links experience will prove useful with strong winds forecast over the next four days.

‘’The course is very firm and with the wind blowing it feels like a links course in many ways,” Jordan revealed.

“I’m used to the wind from playing links golf growing up although that doesn’t necessarily mean I enjoy it.

When it comes to pitching it short of the greens and playing with the terrain that is something I’m very used to, so hopefully that will give me a little edge.’’

The Open de Bretagne begins at 7.10am, with Jordan beginning his first at 12.50pm. For live scoring click here.

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