iverton Golf Club’s Harry Konig admitted he was considering quitting professional golf before his victory in the MENA Tour Journey to Jordan Championship at Ayla GC. Picture by MENA TOUR

EXACTLY three years to the date after turning professional, Devon’s Harry Konig won his first title in dramatic fashion at the $100,000 Journey to Jordan Tour Championship, the season-ending event on the MENA Tour, on Thursday.

The 24-year-old from the West Country seemed out of the reckoning. Konig was three-over through eight holes at the Greg Norman-designed Ayla Golf Club,

But the former Geko Tour player – who admitted he had been considering quitting playing on the mini-Tours at the end of this sason – holed his wedge third shot for an eagle on the par-five ninth.

Konig then played the last five holes in four-under par to finish on 11-under and record a victory that should prove to be life-changing.

Konig had birdied five of the last six holes in the second round, but he saved the best for last.

On the par-four 18th which was playing straight into the wind, he hit a brilliant four-iron from 193 yards to less than a foot for his all-important birdie.

“I just can’t believe it. It’s an experience that I have never felt before, so I am lost for words,” said Konig. “I was never in touch of winning and then I had that finish.”

Konig dedicated the win to his late friend Charlie Watson, who passed away two years ago.

“I was playing so bad,” he said. “And like yesterday, I just told myself to start playing aggressive again and start going for the flags.

“It’s quite a coincidence that I played my first tournament as a professional on November 28, 2016, in Spain on the Gecko Tour.

“And it’s been three very difficult years. Professional golf is hard.

“I had spoken to my parents and was planning to give up playing competitive golf next year.

“And then this happens. I think I will continue playing.”

I am planning to play more in Europe and this gives me two starts on the European Tour and also in the Diamond Cup in Japan.

“These are great opportunities and it is now up to me to make the most out of it.”

But while the winner grabbed the opportunity dangled in front of him, others were left to reflect on missed opportunities.

Hampshire’s US-educated Joshua Grenville-Wood looked all set to secure his first win as a professional as he reached the penultimate hole at 12-under par, but finished with two straight bogeys, starting at the par-five 17th.

Grenville-Wood, who has publicly spoken about his battle with ADHD this year, then missed a par putt from less than three feet on the last to force a play-off, to add to the agony of finishing third in Bahrain earlier in the season.

Challenge Tour stars Todd Clements (67) and Jamie Rutherford (70) of England and Sweden’s Henric Sturehed (69) were already in the clubhouse at 10-under par while Grenville-Wood made it a four-way tie on 206.

•For the final results of the Jordan to Journey click here.

Hill and Keyser earn Dubai Desert Classic starts at Journey to Jordan

Fifteen-year-old Josh Hill the Journey to Jordan Amateur Order of Merit Winner (left) with professional prize winner M G Keyser.

SOUTH Africa’s M G Keyser and Dubai-born teenager Josh Hill both had rounds to forget – but seasons to remember – as they won the Journey To Jordan Order of Merits for the professionals and amateurs respectively.

Keyser, who was in top spot going into the MENA Tour Championship, shot a 79 to finish tied 36th.

But the only two players who could have denied him the honour – Australia’s Burhill-based Daniel Gaunt (69) and Essex’s James Allan (72) – finished tied in 16th place, leaving Hill and Keyser with valuable starts in the European Tour’s Dubai Desert Classic, at the Emirates GC , in January.

Hill, who broke the record of Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa to become the youngest winner of an OWGR-recognised event aged just 15 last month, at the Al Ain Open, sponsored by Arena, was the overnight leader.

But the England junior international just could not get going on the final day, finishing tied ninth on five-under.

As the Tour Championship winner, Konig has won himself a start at the $750,000 Indonesian Masters on the Asian Tour next month.

He also gets a spot in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic for finishing second in the Final Five Order of Merit.

Keyser won the mini-MEMA money list for the last five tournaments.

He finished with total earnings of $45,153 from the season, said the Journey to Jordan win had the potential to change his future.

“I think one of the things every professional golfer looks for is consistency, and that was one of the most pleasing aspect of my season,” said Keyser, who did not miss any cut this year.

The disappointment of being unable to add a second title this year did not last long for Hill.

“I am very excited and I am looking forward to playing at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic,” said Hill.

“I have been to every tournament since I was a five- or a six-year-old and remember getting amazed by the number of people that walked with Tiger Woods’ group when I was there the first time.

“It’s been an amazing season for me, one in which I have learned a lot on the MENA Tour playing with all the professionals.

“I think I have grown as a player. I wanted to finish top-10 in at least a couple of tournaments this season, but I have surpassed my expectations.

“The win at Al Ain was definitely the highlight of the season.”

To see the final standings on the Journey to Jordan Order of Merit click here.

•The MENA Tour’s 2020 season begins with two stages of the Qualifying School, to be played January 20-23 and January 26-29, also at Jordan’s Ayla Golf Club, which proved the ultimate test again this week.

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England junior international Josh Hill, who is just 15, leads the MENA Tour Championship at Jordan’s Ayla Golf Club. Picture by MENA TOUR

DUBAI-born amateur Josh Hill is in sight of a second MENA Tour title after taking a one-shot lead into the final round of the $100,000 Journey To Jordan Tour Championship.

At the Greg Norman-designed Ayla Golf Club, in Aqaba, Hill carded a second-round 69.

His three-under par score took his tally to nine-under – one ahead of Harry Konig (65), Hertfordshire’s Jamie Rutherford (67), Joshua Grenville-Wood (70) and Sweden’s Gabriel Axell (70).

All four professionals are looking for their first win on the MENA Tour.

Fifteen-year-old Hill, who beat the record of Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa to become the youngest winner of an OWGR-recognised event last month at the Al Ain Open, got off to a hot start after his first round of 66 on Tuesday had left him in a three-way tie in first place.

Hill was four-under through seven holes in round two, and even though his ball-striking deserted him a touch on the back nine, he managed to make enough birdies to offset his mistakes.

“I was doing everything so well for the first seven holes, and then made a stupid bogey on the ninth,” said Hill.

“I struggled a bit after that but am delighted to finish at three-under on a tough day.

“I made a three-putt bogey on the 12^th hole, but apart from that, I putted really well, and that really saved the day,” added Hill, who made seven birdies before ending with a bogey on 18^th.

Hill felt the experience of his Al Ain Open win – when he started the final day three shots behind leader Harry Ellis, Hampshire’s Amateur Champion in 2017 – will help him as he dons the role of a front-runner.

“It will be a different challenge and I think what would definitely help is if I get off to a good start like I did in Al Ain,” said the England Boys international.

“But that win proved to me that I have what it takes to win a tournament at this level and that would be a good, positive thought in my mind,” Hill added.

Sweden’s Henric Sturehed, winner of the MENA Tour Championship when it was last played in 2017, shot a two-under par 70 to take solo sixth place, while Luke Joy stayed in touch with a 71 that left him the seventh place.

South Africa’s MG Keyser, the leader of the Journey to Jordan order of merit, is on four-under after a 71.

But with his nearest challengers º Australia’s Daniel Gaunt (73) and Essex’s James Allan (72) – not making any significant move up the leaderboard, he looks on course to win the professionals’ prize on the Journey To Jordan.

Konig said he was “plodding” along and made some good up-and-downs until he decided to get aggressive on the back nine.

The move paid rich dividends as he finished with five birdies in his last six holes to shoot the low round of the day.

Konig said: “I missed making a birdie on the par-five17^th hole, where I missed a putt from five feet.

“That was slightly disappointing, but I did make a birdie on the 18^th which was playing very tough in this wind. I think it is the first time I have made a birdie on that hole.”

Twenty-seven-year-old Rutherford came to Jordan having missed getting into the final stage of the European Tour Qualifying School by just one shot

“I did not putt well at all that day in Spain and it was very disappointing. I went back home and mostly did putting for two weeks before coming here,” said the Knebworth GC member.

“In a sense, it is good that I had this tournament to play and an opportunity to bounce right back,” said the former England amateur international.

Axell, who lost in a play-off at the Ras Al Khaimah Open in October, will try and make amends in Thursday’s final round.

“It’s never good to finish with a bogey, but it wasn’t easy out there,” said Axell.

“However, I am playing some good golf and there is no reason why I should not finish one better than what I did at Ras Al Khaimah,” said the Swede, who made three birdies in a row before the turn.

Grenville-Wood, who finished second in Bahrain earlier this year, said: “It was a grind out there, especially on the back nine.

“I am pretty pleased with the way I kept it going and kept hitting steady shots. I made a pretty good par on the 18^th. So, one shot back, I will take it.”

Grenville-Wood, who played two European Challenge Tour events this season by virtue of his performances on the MENA Tour, has been flying the flag for ADHD sufferers.

He was chosen as an ambassador for the UK’s ADHD Foundation supporting kids who struggle from the condition earlier this year.

The 21-year-old, who was educated in States but also played golf in England as a junior is based in Hampshire while in the UK, and has played more than 500 tournaments as a junior on both sides of the Atlantic.

Grenville-Wood has also played on the Jamega and PGA EuroPro Tour since turning pro in 2017.

•For live scoring from the final round of the MEN Tour Championship 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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The young England U16 team that lost by three points to Ireland at Hunstanton. Picture by LEADERBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY

A YOUNG England Under 16 squad earned praise for their gritty play in a narrow defeat to Ireland.

The visitors emerged from two days of tough competition at Norfolk’s Hunstanton Golf Club with a 16½-13½victory.

The win was sweet revenge for Ireland following England’s triumph at Limerick GC a year ago.

But there is much for the England staff and players to build on as they look ahead to the European Team Championships and Home Internationals in 2020 and beyond.

After the first day’s play featuring both foursomes and singles matches, Ireland held a 10½/2-7½ lead.

They were then made to fight all the way with honours even in terms of the 12 singles games on the second day, which produced a 6-6 tie allowing Ireland to claim overall victory.

Ireland’s strength lie particularly in the boys’ section but there was some sparkling golf on show from both countries.

The combined girls’ and boys’ teams had to put up with some treacherous conditions  – especially on Sunday when the wind and rain swept into Norfolk and produced some appalling weather for golf.

Yet the standard of play was of a very high standard.

Josh Berry beat Ireland’s England U16 Strokeplay Champion Josh Hill 6&5 in the Sunday singles. Picture by LEADERBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY

From the boys’ point of view the form of Yorkshire’s Joshua Berry was noteworthy – the 14-year-old managing to claim big singles victories against Joe Byrne and full Irish international Josh Hill – winner of the McGregor Trophy in July – by shooting under-par on both days.

Worcestershire’s Scottish U14 Boys Open Champion Hugh Adams, who was runner-up in the Reid Trophy, in August, also put two points on the board in singles to re-inforce his growing reputation at junior level.

In the girls’ squad, Nelson GC’s Lydia Cryer can also feel justifiably proud of her efforts having won all three games she played.

The Lancashire junior displayed great character to win both her singles matches on the 18th green.

Meanwhile, for the second season in succession Surrey’s Rafiah Banday ended the Irish match unbeaten – winning a foursomes tie and taking one and a half points from the Royal Mid-Surrey teeanger’s two singles games.

Even for those players unable to win full points or simply new to the set-up, there was plenty to admire about the way they coped with exposure to the international scene.

Close House’s Maggie Whitehead’s singles victory over Katie Poots on Sunday will fill the Northumberland-based player with confidence going forward.

Meanwhile, Farnham’s Lottie Woad was three-down with three to play in her singles game against Anna Dawson.

But the reigning Surrey Ladies Amateur Champion – who is just 16 – fought back to earn a half.

Ireland’s Beth Coulter had to come from two-down with two to play to deny Arcot Hall’s Rachel Gourley a point that her overall play perhaps merited.

A birdie on 17 and a fantastic up-and-down on 18 denied glory for Gourley, the second Northumbrian in the England team.

After the conclusion of the autumn round of junior internationals, England’s regional and national squads will meet up for coaching over the winter months at Woodhall Spa, the National Golf Centre, in Lincolnshire.

The juniors will receive one-to-one coaching and advice, which forms part of a personal development plan.

For full results from Hunstanton GC, click here.

England team:–
Hugh Adams (Hagley GC)
Jack Bigham (Harpenden GC)
Josh Berry (Doncaster GC)
Jack Ingham (Eindhovensche GC)
Harley Smith (Rayleigh GC)
George Durkan (Bishop’s Storford GC)
Thomas Hull (Spalding GC)
Rafiah Banday (Royal Mid Surrey GC)
Ameila Wan (Notts Ladies GC)
Maggie Whitehead (Close House GC)
Lydia Cryer (Nelson GC)
Rachel Gourley (Arcot Hall GC)
Lottie Woad (Farnham GC)

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