David Hague (left) with Chris Garrity, general manager of the host club and Saud Al Sharif, the low amateur in the MENA Tour’s Royal Golf Club Bahrain Open

ALL the days of self-doubting are over for Yorkshire’s David Hague as he put together a brilliant back nine to secure his maiden professional win at the Royal Golf Club Bahrain Open – in only his fourth start in the paid ranks.

The 24-year-old, from Malton and Norton Golf Club, who rose to No. 76 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking before turning pro in January, shot a one-under par 71 on another windy day.

Hague’s nine-under par total after 54 holes proved to be one better than France’s former European Tour star Victor Riu, who shot 70, and earned the former England Amateur international the first prize of $13,500.

“This is amazing and very satisfying,” said David Hague. “I have been thinking of turning professional for more than a year now – and always had my doubts about it.

“I felt I was on a good run when I played the MENA Tour Qualifying School, and thought it was a good time to make the decision. This win definitely validates it,” added Hague.

“I drove consistently well this whole week and that really was the key to my winning. I struggled with my putter from inside six feet and made several three-putts – something I need to work on.

“When I was trailing at the turn, I knew I needed to be patient because the back nine of this golf course has been pretty good to me.

“And yes, that birdie on the 15^th was a key moment for me.”

Hague, who finished runner-up at the NewGiza Open in Cairo, earlier this month, started the final round as leader by one shot.

But last year’s Lee Westwood Trophy winner was trailing at the turn after making a double bogey on the seventh hole.

An eagle on the par-five ninth hole, saw Surrey-based Ryan Lumsden, who qualified to play as an amateur in the US Open at Shinnecock Hills, in 2018, surge ahead.

At that stage, Hague was seven-under with the Royal Wimbledon player – who studied at Chicago’s Northwestern University, the same college NCAA champion Luke Donald attended – playing a group ahead.

But the champion made three birdies on the back nine as against a solitary bogey on the 12^th hole, including a crucial one on the par-four 15^th hole, which was playing very tough into the headwind.

It was a two-shot swing against both Scottish amateur international Lumsden and Riu, his closest rivals, who dropped shots on the same hole with the Scot carding a 71.

Fellow Scot Callum Fyfe (70) joined Lumsden in a tie for third at seven-under, alongside Hague’s former Yorkshire team-mate Ben Hutchinson (67) and Sweden’s European Tour player Henric Sturehed (68).

The latter two returned the best cards on a day when players had to battle through occasional drizzle and steady high wind at the Colin Montgomerie-designed Royal Golf Club.

Saud Al Sharif had to settle for the low amateur prize after a final round 81 sent him tumbling down the leaderbaord at the Royal Golf Club Bahrain Open

Al Sharif: I’ll learn from experience

SAUD Al Sharif could not replicate the stunning performance from the second round.

The member of the Saudi national team and host club slipped down the leaderboard with an 81 in his first experience of playing in the leading group in a pro event.

However, his two-over par total was still good enough to win him the low amateur prize.

Al Sharif was disappointed with his round, but not disheartened with his effort.

“It was a tough day on the golf course, but I wanted to do better than what I did,” said the 19-year-old who finished in a share of 18th place.

“However, this is my first time in a situation like this and I am sure I have learned a lot on how to handle things in the future.

“This experience will make me a better player,” added Al Sharif.

The MENA Tour travels to Aqaba, Jordan, for the $75,000 Journey to Jordan No. 2 next week.

•For final results in the Bahrain Open click here.

The post David Hague wins first pro title in fourth start at Royal Golf Club Bahrain Open appeared first on Golf North.

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.

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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Sebastien Gros (right) with Ali Mohamed, director of Operations at the NewGiza Golf Club after his two-shot victory over Yorkshire rookie David Hague

FRENCHMAN Sebastien Gros is determined to resuscitate his career this year.

And the two-time Challenge Tour winner made a brilliant start in that direction by claiming the inaugural NewGiza Open.

Gros said: “This is fantastic. I have worked very hard this winter along with my team.

“To get a win so early in the season is surely going to give me a lot of confidence going forward.”

The Frenchman took full advantage of the easier opening stretch of NewGiza Golf Club’s stunning course built in an old quarry against the backdrop of Cairo’s famous Pyramids.

Gros made three birdies in his first four holes, and then added two more in a round which saw him hit 16 greens in regulation.

“I missed the green on the eight and had a poor tee shot on the 16,” said Sebastien Gros.

“Those were the only two holes where I had to battle for pars. It was very solid otherwise.

“I got off to a good start and was very pleased when I two-putted for birdie from 95 feet on the third.

“That was a very good first putt to tap-in distance despite facing two or three breaks,” Gros added.

“Immediately after that, I hit what was possibly my best shot of the day on the fourth – a five-iron against the wind to about six feet.

“It was after that fourth hole that I felt I could win this. My long game was very good throughout the day once again, and even though I missed a few other birdie chances, I putted well too.”

The 31-year-old – who lost his European Tour card in 2018 after playing at the highest level for three years – started the final round two shots behind overnight leader Curtis Knipes.

But having overtaken the 2018 English Champion of Champions, Gros finished two ahead of eventual runner-up David Hague.

Gros played a second straight bogey-free round on his way to a five-under par 67 that was one better than his second-round 68 to post 13-under.

It proved enough to claim the winner’s cheque of $13,500 and moved him into second place on the Journey to Jordan rankings, with a place in next year’s Dubai Desert Classic going to the eventual MENA Tour Order of Merit winner.

Hague close to victory at NewGiza in just second start on MENA Tour

YORKSHIRE’S former England amateur international David Hague charged through the field with a seven-under par 65 on Thursday.

Young Hague, who decided to turn pro after securing his card at the MENA Tour Qualifying School, almost turned his second start as a professional into a dream win.

Last year’s Lee Westwood Trophy winner could have finished much better than his eventual 11-under total.

But Hague paid the price of making a late bogey on the par-five 17th hole.

Hague entered the MENA Tour Qualifying School as an amateur, turned pro right after securing his card.

And he was delighted with his performance this early in his professional career, having faded out of the race for a Walker Cup call-up against the Americans at Hoylake last year, after being a regular in the England set up for three years.

“I got off to a hot start and was eight-under par through 13 holes,” said Hague.

“Slightly disappointed with the finish as I missed a birdie chance from six feet on the 15th, then three-putted from 15 feet on the 17th hole for my only bogey of the day.

“I also missed an eight-footer on the 18th,” said the 23-year-old, from Malton and Norton GC, near York.

“But seven-under par is a great round and I am really pleased with the way I have played, especially after missing the cut last week in Jordan.”

•Castle Royle’s David Langley, who finished tied eighth at NewGiza, leads the Journey to Jordan after two events, following his victory in the Journey to Jordan No. 1 last week.

Sebastien Gros trails Langley by $735 as the players prepare for the third of the 11-strong schedule for the firts half of the MENA Tour season.

Purcell takes third on MENA Tour debut

IRELAND’S Conor Purcell made a great start to his MENA Tour career as well, finishing tied third after a closing 67.

The Portmarnock pro, who played in Great Britain and Ireland’s Walker Cup defeat against the Americans at Hoylake, in September, finished alongside the promising Swede Niclas Weiland, who carded a 68.

Overnight leader Knipes meanwhile never got going after a triple-bogey seven on the par-four eighth hole.

The Essex ace, who qualified to play in last year’s Open at Royal Portrush, finally finished tied fifth at nine-under par, along with Scotland’s Scott Henry and Dorset’s Abu Dhabi-based pro Luke Joy, after both shot 69s.

The MENA Tour by Arena next moves to Muscat, Oman, for the Ghala Open from February 17-19.

The winner of the tournament gets a spot at the European Tour’s Oman Open, held the following week.

•For details of the players entered in the Ghala Open click here.

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Curtis Knipes faces a final round challenge from two-time European Challenge Tour winner Sebestien Gross who trails the Essex rookie by three shots in the MENA Tour’s NewGiza Open

CURTIS Knipes faces a final day threat from France’s European Challenge Tour winner Sebastien Gros in the MENA Tour’s NewGiza Open.

Rookie Knipes may well have to rely on his three shot cushion as he seeks a maiden win in his just his second MENA event.

The two-time Essex Amateur Champion, from Chelmsford Golf Club, played in the tougher afternoon session to stay ahead of the field

The teenage pro shot a four-under par 68 in the second round of the $75,000 NewGiza Open, the first-ever MENA Tour event in Egypt.

The 19-year-old former England junior started the day from the 10th tee with a two-shot lead at NewGiza Golf Club, which has Cairo’s famous Pyramids as a a backdrop.

Curtis made the turn at one-under par with a bogey on the 18th.

Knipes’ second nine was even better as he picked up three shots without dropping any to take his 36-hole aggregate to 10-under, having shot 66 on Tuesday.

“I was happy with that round. It’s always good to follow up a good first round with a solid second to keep yourself in contention,” said Knipes, who qualified for last year’s at Open at Royal Portrush.

Knipes, who is playing only his second event as a professional, added: “Tomorrow is obviously a big day for me.

“It’s the first time leading the MENA Tour and being in the final group of the day. I will just try and approach it as I have done every other day.

“I can’t control what others are doing. I am just going to go out there and shoot the lowest round that I can,” said the 2018 English County Champion of Champions.

England’s 19-year-old Bailey Gill shot the best round of the tournament so far – a seven-under par 65 – to climb to second place at nine-under.

Twenty-two-year-old Gill, who hails from Worksop and plays at Lindrick Golf Club, started with a bogey on the 10th hole, his only mistake of the day.

“It was very cold out there in the morning and I was first off, said the player from the same Nottinghamshire town as Lee Westwood.

Gill added: “I hit a driver and wedge into the 10th yesterday, and it was a driver, three-iron today.

“But I played well after that,” said Gill, who matched the course record at NewGiza Golf Club.

“I will continue doing what I have been doing so far. Just stick to my notes and put up a performance that is hopefully good enough.”

Gros ‘lost motivation’ with no card

SEBASTIEN Gros, who lost his European Tour card after the 2018 season, was bogey-free for his round and hoping to get back to winner’s circle tomorrow.

The former European Tour player, who is a two-time winner on the Challenge Tour, was in tied third place alongside the promising Swede Niclas Weiland.

Both players shot successive round of four-under par 68

Gros said: “Always happy with a bogey-free round. I played well and hit 17 greens in regulation so I did not have to worry too much about getting my pars.

“I just wish I was as efficient as yesterday on the greens, but I should not complain after a 68,” added Gros.

“It was good to finish with a tap-in birdie on the 18^th after I missed chances on every hole from the 14^th to 17^th.

“The last year was very disappointing, but it was very hard to motivate myself to play on the Challenge Tour after spending three years at the highest level on the European Tour,” said Gros giving an insight into the mental challenges players face trying to get to the top.

“My friends told me some very good things about the MENA Tour and how it can be a great preparation for the season, and I decided to come” said Sebastien.

“Hopefully, tomorrow I will be in contention over the last nine holes.”

Conor Purcell, the promising young star from Ireland, was even par for the five par-five holes on the new Egyptian course.

But the last year’s Walker Cup player – who claimed the 2019 Australia Amateur Championship, still shot a 67 to rise to fifth place on seven-under.

The Portmarnock member, who made his first appearance in a pro event in last year’s ISPS Handa Vic Open while still an amateur, made his pro debut in November’s New South Wales Open, having reached No. 10 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.

Purcell, who has signed for American management firm Wasserman, also received an invite into the Emirates Australian Open, at The Australian GC, in December, as the Australian Amateur Champion, but missed the cut by seven shots.

•Click here for live scoring from the third and final round of the NewGiza Open.

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The NewGiza Open will host the MENA Tour’s NewGiza Open played against the spectacular backdrop of some of Egypt’s pyramids in the disued quarry near Cairo.

CASTLE Royle’s David Langley will bid to win back-to-back when the MENA Tour visits its 12^th host country when it visits Egypt for the first time for the NewGiza Open.

The second tournament of the 2020 season in the Middle East is being played at the NewGiza Golf Club with the spectacular setting of the world-famous pyramids of Giza as a backdrop this week.

Berkshire pro Langley – who claimed last week’s season opener in the Journey to Jordan No. 1 – will tee it up alongside 85 other players, including past European Tour champions Yorkshire’s Richard Finch and France’s Romain Wattel.

David Langley’s maiden pro win came in last week’s MENA Tour event

Also starting his new season in Cairo is the reigning professional Journey to Jordan champion, South Africa’s Mathiam Keyser.

The 7,351-yard, par-72 golf course – with the stunning backdrop – was designed by Thomson Perrett & Lobb and opened to public last year.

It has already captured the imagination of those who have visited it.

It’s not just the views of the famous Pyramids, but also the subtle intricacies of the golf course, which meanders through an old quarry.

The course features strategic bunkering, changes in elevation, scenic lakes and an impressive desert landscape.

Keyser was hoping not to get too distracted by the views and make a solid start to his 2020 season.

The three-time MENA Tour champion said: “I am really looking forward to the start of the 2020 season.

“Feel like I had a nice break and playing the Omega Dubai Desert Classic was a nice way to start the year. I am focused, prepared and ready to go.

“Having loads of opportunities in Europe and Asia is definitely a bonus for me this year, thanks to the MENA Tour and my management company.

“It is going to be fun and getting a good start on the MENA Tour in Egypt will obviously help build a lot with confidence going into the rest of the year.

“I played the course for the first time yesterday and absolutely enjoyed the challenge. It’s a fun course to play and in excellent condition.

“All 18 holes were really nice and very challenging in the wind, but the par threes are especially good,” added Keyser.

Shergo Al Kurdi was the leading amateur at the Journey to Jordan No. 1 last week

NewGiza owners lining up second MENA Tour event for Red Sea venue

THE NewGiza course is part of a 680-hectare development in the south-west of the city that includes upscale housing, sports arena, hotels, schools and universities.

NewGiza director of golf Ali Mohamed was excited about welcoming the MENA Tour to their world-class facilities.

“It really is a matter of great pride for us that we will be hosting our first MENA Tour event on our golf course,” said Mohamed.

“We have received some very good reviews since our launch and we are confident that the professional players will find it challenging.

“We have had some very good talks with the MENA Tour and we’d like to help them extend their presence here in Egypt.

“We have another golf course in Sokhna by the Red Sea and we are looking at having another tournament there in the near future.”

The tournament, which starts today (Tuesday), also features Shergo Al Kurdi. The Jordanian was the leading amateur there in finishing a creditable tied second.

•For live scoring in the first round of the NewGiza Open click here.

The post MENA Tour off to Egypt for NewGiza Open: Langley faces Tour stars Finch and Wattel appeared first on Golf North.