Charl Schwartzel won the Brabazon Trophy at Royal Cinque Ports in 2002 – the 2020 English Open Amateur Strokeplay Championship at Sherwood Forest in late May has been cancelled Picture by ANDREW GRIFIFN / AMG PICTURES

ENGLAND Golf have postponed all championships and coaching scheduled to take place up until early June as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.

They include the Brabazon Trophy at Sherwood Forest and the first international match of the season between England and France at Ganton, which hosted the Walker Cup in 2003.

All England coaching for their men’s, women’s and junior squads – both at national and regional level – have also been cancelled for the foreseeable future.

Top women’s events to be postponed include the English Senior Women’s Amateur at Peterborough Milton and the English Women’s Amateur at Sheringham, in Norfolk – both in May.

England men’s Seniors Championship which was due to be played at Luffenham Heath and Burghley Park, in Lincolnshire, in early June, has also been called off.

The following England Golf and co-sanctioned events are affected:–

• Golf Sixes – Centurion Club, St Albans, Hertfordshire 30-31 March 30-21
• Senior Series and Golf Captains – St Mellion, Cornwall, April 29-30
• Senior Series and Golf Captains – Hesketh, Lancashire, May 6-7
• Brabazon Trophy South Qualifier – East Sussex National, May 12
• Brabazon Trophy North Qualifier – Hessle, Yorkshire, May 12
• England v France – Ganton, Yorkshire 9-10 May 9-10
• English Senior Women’s Amateur – Peterborough Milton, May 11-15
• England Golf Medal (South) – Knole Park, Kent, May 17
• Golf Captains – Northants County, May 20
• Brabazon Trophy – Sherwood Forest, Notts, May 21-24
• English Women’s Amateur – Sheringham, Norfolk, May 27-31
• England Golf Medal (Midlands North) – Stanton-on-the-Wolds, Gloucestershire, May 28
• English Seniors Amateur Championship – Luffenham Heath, Rutland, & Burghley Park, Lincolnshire, June 3-5
• Senior Series and Golf Captains – Stowmarket, Suffolk, June 3-4
• England Golf Medal (East) – Colne Valley, Essex, June 7.

England Golf’s director of championships James Crampton said: “It is with regret that all England Golf events have been postponed until Sunday, June 7.

“Further information about potentially rescheduling some of these events for later in the year will be provided in due course.

“England Golf also recommends the postponement of all county and regional competitions during this time.

“While England Golf are encouraging golfers to continue playing the game, the intricacies associated with championship golf such as players travelling to events, staying in hotels and the additional personnel associated with the management of the events makes it impossible to ensure the safety and welfare of all concerned.”

All current entrants into England Golf events during this period of postponement will be contacted directly by the championship department with further information.

The decision has also been made to cancel all England Golf regional and national squad coaching sessions for men, women, boys and girls until further notice.

Individual coaching sessions can continue provided they comply with the stringent government and expert advice on social distancing, an England Golf spokesman said.

Events relating to championships and performance squads remain under constant review and timely updates will be issued via England Golf’s website and social media platforms, he added.

England Golf will continue to communicate any changes through our website, social platforms and via direct correspondence to their affiliated counties, clubs and golfers.

It is vital that everyone continues to follow best practice when it comes to dealing with the current outbreak of coronavirus.

•Last year’s Brabazon Trophy was won by 16-year-old Ben Schmidt, from Rotherham GC, who broke Sandy Lyle’s record set as a 17-year-old in 1975 – and 70 years after Hampshire’s Sir Paddy Hine became the first teenager to win the English Open Amateur Strokeplay, at Southampton’s Stoneham GC, when he was just 17.

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In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, England Golf has today announced a number of key decisions relating to all of our championships and wider golfing activities.

• All championship and performance events have been postponed until 7 June.
• With the health and wellbeing of all golfers, staff and volunteers paramount in our thinking, we have issued a comprehensive guidance document to clubs and golfers on how best to proceed in these unprecedented times
• England Golf’s AGM and national participation events scheduled for the spring have been postponed
• New working practices for staff have been adopted to ensure we remain fully operational and available to assist counties, clubs and golfers in the weeks and months ahead

For full details on all these important announcements please click below:

Championships and Performance

Guidance for Golf Clubs and Golfers

Event Postponements and How to contact England Golf

These remain extremely difficult and unprecedented times for the game of golf as well as the country in general.

England Golf remains committed to helping our golfing community adapt to the necessary changes and for golfers to continue to play the game in a safe environment and according to government and public health guidelines.

The pace of change and the constant updating of government and medical advice means that a continual process of re-assessment of decisions and guidelines must be undertaken.

England Golf will continue to communicate any changes through our website, social platforms and via direct correspondence to our affiliated counties, clubs and golfers.

It is vital that everyone continues to follow best practice when it comes to dealing with the current outbreak of coronavirus.

For expert medical advice please refer to the following websites:

World Health Organisation: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

Public Health England: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/public-health-england

The post England Golf update: COVID-19 appeared first on Golf North.

England Golf Statement Regarding Coronavirus

England Golf  – in light of the developing situation with the COVID-19 outbreak – has today issued the following guidance to all our affiliated golf clubs and golfers.

We fully recognise the need to adhere to the expert advice available and as such we would point all our clubs in the direction of the guidelines set out in detail by Public Health England via their website.

Details on how best to cope with the virus can also be found via the World Health Organisation website which will provide rolling updates and the best ways to mitigate against the spread of the infection.

NHS England also provide updated and expert advice via their website.

All golf clubs should note, act upon and continually monitor the advice and guidance issued by these expert authorities in relation to the current coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

It is important that we all work together, following the advice of qualified professionals, in controlling the spread of COVID-19.

This remains a very fluid situation and England Golf will continue to take their lead from the government and public health authorities when it comes to safeguarding our clubs and members and offering practical and necessary steps to ensure the health and wellbeing of golfers and golf club staff.

England Golf chief executive Jeremy Tomlinson said: “The expert practical advice that is available from the health authorities and national government should remain the first point of reference for all our golf clubs and golfers.

“This is clearly a fluid and developing situation and we will continue to monitor events as they progress and pass on the relevant information to our stakeholders.

“By working in alignment with those who are specialists in this field, we will be able to take the necessary precautions and provide the correct measures to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak.”

Where do you want to go next?

• Scottish Golf statement
• Wales Golf statement
• Golfing Union of Ireland statement

More information

• NHS website
• Public Health Service

GOLF UNIONS

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Essex Ladies’ County Association

Gloucestershire Ladies’ County Golf Association

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Lancashire Ladies’ County Golf Association

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Lincolnshire Women’s Golf Association

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Family run Bentham Golf Course is once again showing its flair for making golf a more appealing and all-embracing pastime with their latest initiative, the Friday Night Knock series, starting late Spring.

Since taking on the picturesque Yorkshire Dales course in 2009, the Marshall family have worked tirelessly to transform what had become a tired club. With the enthusiasm of youth in the form of the energetic Isabel Marshall at the helm, the objective is always to present golf as a fun pastime to be enjoyed in good company, regardless of skill level.

Backed by the support of Thomas and Jane Marshall, already successful in the leisure industry as owners of nearby Riverside Caravan Park, the team have introduced several changes to make the sport more appealing and less intimidating for the uninitiated.

A driving range, glamping pods and luxury lodges, a vibrant clubhouse rebranded as 1922 Bar & Kitchen and open to non-golfers, a FootGolf course, tuition and a well-stocked leisureware shop have all served to attract newcomers.

Isabel explains “Simply subtly changing the name from Bentham Golf Club to Bentham Golf Course has helped to make the place more welcoming and less like a private club. Naturally, we have Members who enjoy special benefits, but we are open to all, anytime, and the Friday Night Knock series will be a great opportunity for visitors from near and far to join the locals and members in the spirit of competition in a relaxed environment.”

The 9 hole competitions, open to gentlemen and ladies, will feature prizes on the day with further divisional prizes at the end of the series. More details of the Friday Night Knock series, which are also a handicap qualifier, are available on the course website www.benthamgolfcourse.co.uk

The post Innovative 9-hole Competitions Introduced At Bentham appeared first on Golf North.

Pannal is the only course in Harrogate and North Yorkshire recognised by the R&A as an Open qualifier venue and in July 2015 co-hosted the English Amateur Championship. You may have played others in Yorkshire but Pannal will provide a most enjoyable and challenging test for any keen golfer.

This beautiful course is an 18-hole, SSS Par 72 6,614 yards layout, lying in woodland and heathland with outstanding views of Harrogate and surrounding areas. The signature 17th hole provides the most stunning view of all. We hope you enjoy your game when you visit … it’s a great course and said by many to be Harrogate’s best golf course.

We Welcome Visitors

We can promise all our Visitors a very warm welcome and the opportunity to play a real championship golf course in the year we are co-hosting the English Amateur Championship.

While we do not ask for handicap certificates, visitors should be able to play to a good standard and at a reasonable pace. For groups of up to 4 players please go to “Visitor Tee Booking” where you can go online to book one tee time per day: payment is by credit card.

As part of an overall strategic plan to improve drainage we began work on the 14th, 15th and 16th greens from mid October – the heavy duty work with the contractor should be completed within 4 weeks and, weather permitting, we expect a similar pattern of bedding in and remedial maintenance experienced last year with everything ready for the new season. There will be temporary greens in operation when Visitors will enjoy a £5 discount overall prevailing green fees.

Please click here for details of our Winter trolley restrictions.

We offer excellent facilities including a comfortable lounge overlooking the course: in warmer weather you can relax outside on the Centenary Terrace while you enjoy a drink or a meal, and watch golfers tee off from the first or putt out at the 18th.

Our two bars are run by Jaine Collington who stocks a wide range of beers, lagers and wines. Top quality catering is on hand, with a wide choice of bar snacks and menus which can be served in our attractive dining room or, for larger parties, in the lounge area.

On top of all that we also offer:

Ample changing rooms with showers and a plentiful supply of towels
Practice ground with range balls for hire
Putting green
Buggies, electric trolleys and clubs for hire
Sky TV
Halfway House beside the 10th green (extra cost)
Our PGA Professional, Dave Padgett, and his team have one of the best Pro Shops in the county with a high tech Golf Studio offering coaching to everyone from beginners to European Tour professionals, plus a full range of premium brand clubs, clothing and accessories.

Whether you visit as an individual or part of a society, charity or company golf event we can promise a complete package to suit your budget and ensure you will be determined to play at Pannal again. Please call our Managing Secretary on 01423 872628 to create your package.
Come over to Pannal – Yorkshire Golf at its Best

…but don’t just take our word for it ………

“We had a great day at Pannal! The glorious weather helped, but that’s only nature at work. What completed the experience was a marvellous course, enjoyed by all, even those like myself who didn’t do it justice; but more so the warmth of our reception by Martin, the very helpful bar staff and your young ladies in the evening. Please pass on our appreciation to your staff, and my thanks to you for your help in organising a memorable golf day!”
Ken Hunter, Five Nations Golf Society – May 2015

“I feel I must email you to congratulate you on your open competition of June 1st. From the minute me and my brother arrived we felt very welcome, a nice breakfast was followed by a basket of balls on the range, a coffee and pork pie at the halfway house, a fabulous round of golf on a very good condition course, very impressive greens. A very nice meal afterward with a special mention to the sticky toffee pudding and ice cream. All in all we had a great day and the journey was well worth it , see you next year and thanks again for a great day.
Mr R Clay, Oakmere GC – June 2015.

To find out more call our Managing Secretary, on 01423 872628.

The Pannal Golf Club (Harrogate) LTD

Follifoot Road
Pannal
Harrogate
North Yorkshire
England
HG3 1ES

Telephone
01423 872628

Fax
01423 870043

Email
secretary@pannalgolfclub.co.uk

Visit the Pannal Golf Club website.

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Ryan Lumsden’s win on the MENA Tour came in just his third start at the Journey to Jordan No. 2 at Greg Norman’s Ayla Golf Club

SCOTLAND’S Ryan Lumsden showed just why he is considered one of the finest emerging talents in the game as he overcame a last-hole hiccup to earn his first professional win.

He claimed first prize of $13,500 after winning the Journey to Jordan No. 2 in just his third start on the MENA Tour.

Lumsden first win in an Official World Golf Ranking event was by one shot over Essex’s equally-promising Curtis Knipes.

London-based Lumsden made a double-bogey six on the tough 18^th hole at the Greg Norman-designed Ayla Golf Club, on Wednesday.

But the Royal Wimbledon GC man, who went to Wellington College, near Reading, before heading to the States for four years on a golf scholarship in Chicago, had done enough to post a two-under par final round of 70.

That took his tally to eight-under for the tournament – one better than Knipes, who closed with a 68 to post seven-under.

“Don’t ask me about the 18th, but I am delighted to get the win,” said Lumsden, who had a two-shot lead to sleep on before third round.

“I felt really good about my game the whole day. Got off to a good start and was four-under through six holes.

I then made great putts that barely missed on the next two holes. On the ninth, I hit a wonderful drive and had just about 200 yards.

“But it was at the bottom of a divot and I could not risk the water on the left so had to lay up and the birdie putt lipped out.

“Went through a little bit of a rough patch on the back nine, but I was able to make some good swings after that.

“I will think back about the 18^th hole and process what I did wrong there – but very happy to get the job done and hopefully, we can carry it on from here.

“There wasn’t one defining or key moment today. The par save on the 15^th was great, but so was the up-and-down for birdie on the 17th. I just played solid golf throughout.”

The Northwestern University star, who will start in the AT&T Byron Nelson Classic, on the PGA Tour, in May – after winning the Byron Nelson Award while a US collegiate golfer in 2019 – was fast out of the blocks.

The Chicago university graduate made birdies on the first, fourth, fifth and sixth holes. He then missed birdie chances on the seventh, eight and ninth holes to make the turn at four-under.

That was three shots clear of Somerset’s Walker Cup player Tom Sloman who had been two behind going into the last round.

Lumsden’s first bogey of the day came from the greenside bunker on the par-three 12^th hole.

And he was lucky not to get wet on the short 13^th when he hooked his tee shot way off the mark.

Lumsden made a crucial par save from 20 feet on the 15th before a clutch birdie from the bunker on the penultimate hole gave him the necessary cushion to go down the 18th – with Knipes already in the clubhouse on seven-under.

Ryan Lumsden found the fairway bunker on the last – took three shots to get to the green – and three-putted for a six and the victory.

•To see the final results at Ayla Golf Club, click here.

Ryan Lumsden (right) celebrates his victory in the Journey to Jordan No. 2

Knipes knows his time will come

NINETEEN-year-old Knipes, who turned professional at the start of the year like Ryan Lumsden, recorded his best-ever finish on the MENA Tour.

His 68 included just one bogey, which came on the fifth when he chunked a wedge shot from the middle of the fairway.

But that was the only mistake made by the Chelmsford GC member who was MENA’S leading amateur on the Journey to Jordan Order of Merit in 2019.

“I played pretty well today,” said Knipes, who was the English Champion of Champions in 2018 – a title won by Tommy Fleetwood, Lee Westwood and Sandy Lyle in the past.

Knipes, who qualifed to play in last year’s Open at Royal Portrush, added: “The conditions were very fair and I did have a number in mind for the final round.

“I wanted to get to 10-under par – so a 65. That was not to be, but I am very happy with the runner-up finish,” said Knipes, a two-time Essex Amateur Champion.

“Very happy with the way I have started as a professional. I had four top-10s in five starts and even though I felt I let go a couple of chances to win, I know my time will come. I just have to be patient.”

There was a five-way tie for the third place with Sweden’s Ake Nilsson (69) reaching six-under alongside Hertfordshire’s Jamie Rutherford (65), Gloucestershire’s Mitch Waite (68), Sloman (70) and Essex’s Benjamin David (70).

Chelmsford Golf Club’s Curtis Knipes was second – his best-ever MENA Tour finish

Langley earns Trophee Hassan II start

REWARD: David Langley

CASTLE Royle’s David Langley secured a start at the European Tour’s Trophee Hassan II by topping the Journey to Jordan money list at the halfway stage.

The winner of the first event of the season at the same Ayla Golf Club, shot a 70 in the final round to finish tied 35th on his return to Aqaba.

Yorkshire’s David Hague, the only other player who could have overtaken Langley in Jordan this week, was tied 30th.

The winner of last week’s Bahrain Open, from Malton & Norton Golf Club, could not surmount the difference in earnings between the two rookie winners.

However, the star of the day was the 23-year-old Lumsden, who is expected to move to inside the top-1000 on the Official World Golf Rankings with his triumph.

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

The post Ryan Lumsden breaks MENA Tour duck in third start to win Journey to Jordan No. 2 appeared first on Golf North.

Royal Wimbledon’s Ryan Lumsden leads the 2020 Journey to Jordan No. 2 at Ayla Golf Club, after two rounds – and wants to record his maiden MENA Tour win in just his third start

ROYAL Wimbledon’s Ryan Lumsden has been knocking on the door since his MENA Tour debut last month… today he has the chance to grab his maiden victory.

He has what could be a crucial two-shot lead after an extremely windy second round of the $75,000 Journey to Jordan No. 2 at the Greg Norman-designed Ayla Golf Club.

The London-based Scotsman shot a superb bogey-free 69 to take his 36-hole tally to six-under – two clear of Somerset’s Walker Cup player Tom Sloman (70) and Essex’s Benjamin David (71).

Lumsden will be playing the Byron Nelson Classic on the PGA Tour in May after winning the 2109 Byron Nelson Award while in his final year at Northwestern University – the same Chicago college where Luke Donald played golf.

Lumsden, who qualified for the 2018 US Open as an amateur, was pleased with the way he handled himself on a difficult day.

“It was a little windier and touch trickier than yesterday, but I played solid,” said the former Scottish international.

“It was all about missing it in the right places and hitting smart shots. I kept the ball out of the wind pretty nicely,” added Ryan.

He started with a birdie on the par-four 10th, then made an up-and-down on the par-five 17th – before making his final birdie of the day on the third hole where he wedged it to tap-in distance.

“I just hit one bad shot today, on the par-four seventh hole, and it did not get into the water and stayed on the edge,” said Lumsden. “But the game was pretty consistent, and my lag putting was good.”

After back-to-back 69s, Lumsden was relishing the chance to test himself again in a final round after recent near-misses.

He played the last two holes to one-over and lost in the play-off in the Qualifying School at Ayla GC, in January.

At the Journey to Jordan No. 1 on the same course in February, he was one shot off the lead, but had a poor final round.

Last week in Bahrain, Lumsden was two-over for the last four holes to lose by two as Yorkshire’s David Hague became the latest rookie winner on the MENA Tour in 2020.

“I have been learning from those mistakes and trying to figure out how I can play the golf I have been playing when I am down the stretch and get over that hump and get my first win on the MENA Tour,” added the 23-year-old, who earned his first Official World Golf Ranking points in Bahrain.

“I have been thinking about it lately. I did a much better job in Bahrain last week,” Lumsden revealed.

“My mistakes weren’t really mental out there. Just a couple of good shots ending up in positions where I did not think they would.

“I just need to stick to the process of hitting one good shot after another.

“It’s really going to be a case of staying in the moment and not letting my head get in the way and thinking ahead.

“I just see it as another opportunity to figure out my stuff coming down the stretch and I see it only helping me down the line,” added Lumsden, who was named in the original Walker Cup squad a year ago, but did not earn selection to play America at Royal Liverpool.

Knipes chasing down Lumsden

ANOTHER Essex pro – Curtis Knipes – playing in his first season as a professional, stayed in contention in the race to catch Lumsden after a level-par 72.

That tied him for the fourth place at three-under par alongside American Ben Schlottman (68), Dorset’s MENA Tour veteran Luke Joy (70) and the Swedish pair of Filip Lundell (70) and Ake Nilsson (71).

Overnight leader Mitch Waite started in sensational fashion by making an eagle on the par-four 10th hole after driving the green.

But four subsequent bogeys dropped the Gloucestershire player – who played in the World Amateur Team Championship for England two years ago – down to solo ninth place at two-under.

Sloman, who has been a picture of consistency in his debut season on the MENA Tour, was two-over par after eight holes.

But the former England international, who turned pro after playing for Great Britain & Ireland against the USA at Hoylake, in September, pulled it back with four birdies coming in.

They included two in his last two holes, the eighth and ninth, having started from the 10th.

The race to earn the start in the Trophee Hassan II on the European Tour was still on between David Langley and Hague.

Langley made the cut on the number, while Hague was tied 34th and will need to finish inside the top-10 depending on his rival’s finish to get the start in Morocco, in May.

Hague, playing in the same group as Sloman, was one-over at the turn and replicated his playing partner’s scores on the closing two holes to add a 71 to his overnight 69.

The cut came at nine-over with 49 professionals and one amateur – India’s Arjun Gupta – proceeding to the final round on Wednesday.

•To follow live scoring click here.

The post Rookie Lumsden looking for first win as he leads Journey to Jordan No. 2 by two shots appeared first on Golf North.

David Langley is currently top of the Journey to Jordan Order of Merit on the MENA Tour and can earn a start on the Euoropean Tour at the Trophee Hassan II, in June, this week.

IT promises to be a fascinating battle between David Langley and David Hague in this week’s $75,000 Journey to Jordan No. 2, with a European Tour start up for grabs.

The English duo are chasing the big reward of a spot in the European Tour’s Trophee Hassan II.

The Order of Merit leader at the end of the first five events on the 2020 MENA Tour receives an invitation to the €2.5million Trophee Hassan II, in Morocco from June 4-7.

The lucky player will also receive free accommodation in the official hotel for that week.

After the fourth leg of the season, Journey to Jordan No. 1 winner Langley currently leads the Order of Merit with $24.909 – a lead of $784 over Hague winner of the Royal Golf Club Bahrain Open, who has earned $24,125 so far this season.

The equation is simple. With $400 assured for the last-placed player in the tournament, Hague will have to finish inside a two-way tie for the 12^th place to have any chance of overtaking Langley.

Having won at the Greg Norman-designed Ayla Golf Club last month, Langley, from Berkshire’s Castle Royle GC, probably starts as a pre-tournament favourite.

Yorkshireman Hague missed the cut at Ayla in his first start as a professional golfer, having opened with a disappointing 81.

However, current form would give the Malton & Norton GC member an advantage heading into Journey to Jordan No. 2, which starts today (Monday).

Last year’s Lee Westwood Trophy winner finished first in Bahrain with three solid rounds in windy conditions, last week.

Meanwhile his 25-year-old rival from Marlow, in Buckinghamshire, endured a tough final round in the same tournament and recorded a 79.

Langley, who lost his father to a long-term illness late in 2019, said: “Absolutely. The spot in Morocco is on my mind and if someone else in my situation says they are not thinking about it, they’d probably be lying.

“But it is not something that is going to control my shots during the tournament. It is something you think outside of it. I will be focused on each shot that I hit when I play the tournament.

“I have very happy memories of this golf course, and obviously, having played it quite a few times, I am very familiar with it.

“I drove the ball very well and made almost every putt from inside 10 feet when I won the Journey to Jordan No. 1, and I will have to do pretty much the same again this week,” said the former England amatuer international.

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

Hague, who turned pro after MENA Tour Qualifying School at the same venue, said he did not touch his clubs after playing the pro-am in Bahrain a day after his victory.

“I got into Aqaba only last night after facing a few travel issues and Sunday was the first day I actually practiced.

“It’s been a crazy couple of days with so many messages from friends and people I know. I am so looking forward to going back home next week, but I have a job to do before that,” said Hague, who was a team-mate of Hague at the 2018 Home Internationals.

“I won’t say Morocco is my top priority right now. I am pretty good at taking every competition as it comes.

“It’s just a consequence of playing well and that’s what I’d be focused on this week.

“I did not have a great start to my professional career here, but I am looking forward to competing on this course,” added Hague, who was a junior at the same North Yorkshire club as European Tour winner Simon Dyson.

“I think I was too aggressive here the last time and threw away a few shots through careless mistakes. That’s something I want to avoid.

Langley and Hague have been paired together for the first two rounds and start their campaigns on Monday at 9.20am local time.

•To follow live scoring in the Journey to Jordan No. 2 click here.

The post Journey to Jordan No. 2 fight between Hague and Langley for Trophee Hassan II start appeared first on Golf North.

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.

Yorkshire’s former England amateur international David Hague leads the Royal Golf Club Bahrain Open, with one round to play – local member Saud Alf Sharif is in the chasing pack

IT was a proud moment for Saudi Arabian golf and host venue Royal Golf Club when amateur Saud Al Sharif mastered tough playing conditions to shoot the lowest round of the day on the MENA Tour’s fourth event of the 2020 season.

Al Sharif surged into a tie for second place, just one behind leader David Hague, after the second round of the $75,000 Royal Golf Club Bahrain Open.

The 19-year-old member of the Saudi National Team learned his golf at the Royal Golf Club in Bahrain where he has been based for the past 10 years.

He used his immense local knowledge to the fullest – on a day when strong and swirling wind posed tough questions – to shoot a six-under par 66.

It moved him to tied second place at seven-under, tied with France’s Antoine Schwartz, who carded a 70.

“It is such an amazing day. I had an unbelievable round, my lowest ever on the MENA Tour,” said Al Sharif, who had sensationally made the cut last week in Oman, after holing out his second shot on the par-four 17^th hole for an eagle and a birdie on the last.

“My putter was on fire. I made putts from Saudi Arabia to Bahrain,” Al Sharif added.

“Come to think of it, my short game was something that was holding me back. I have been working really hard on my putting and chipping with Jamie McConnell, at the Claude Harmon Performance Institute, in Dubai, and it is showing results.

“Of course, I know this golf course better than everyone else. But playing at home also brings a lot of pressure and hopefully, I can handle it tomorrow as well as I did today.”

Saud Al Sharif is a member at this week’s host club for the fourth MENA Tour event of 2020

Dropped shots cut Hague’s cushion

YORKSHIRE rookie Hague, who started from the 10th, stumbled on his way home with three bogeys and a double on the front nine.

Hague, who turned pro after MENA Tour by Arena Qualifying School and recently finished runner-up at the NEWGIZA Open in Cairo, was five-under par through his front nine.

The consistent Hague drove his opening hole – the reachable par-four 10^th – and started in the best possible way with an eagle.

He made the turn at five-under before two, three-putts and a poor tee shot on the par-three seventh led to leaked shots.

A birdie on his last – the ninth – helped him close with a 70 and gave him a one-shot cushion going into the final round.

“I was playing really well and was 12-under par at one stage,” said the Malton & Norton GC member.

“It’s disappointing to finish at two-under, but I am happy that I managed to reach eight-under par.

“The conditions were quite difficult out there with the wind,” added Hague, who won the Lee Weestwood Trophy at Rotherham GC, in his final year as an amateur.

Schwartz, who is looking for his first win on the MENA Tour, was rewarded for his patience with two birdies in his last two holes – the eighth and ninth – both playing very difficult in the wind.

“It was a tough day and I just tried to remain patient,” said Schwartz, a European Challenge Tour member.

“It was a good finish with the two birdies and I am looking forward to tomorrow,” he added.

“Getting into contention is the main thing in golf and if I am within one or two shots of the leader tomorrow going into the back nine, I will be happy and give it my best shot,” said Schwartz, who is looking to emulate his friend Sebastien Gros, the winner in Cairo two weeks ago.

First round leader Joel Girrbach (72), from Switzerland, fell to tied fourth place at six-under the promising Scot Ryan Lumsden (67) and resurgent Frenchman Victor Riu (67).

Journey to Jordan leader David Langley, from Berkshire, made successive eagles on the ninth and 10^th holes after making a double bogey on the second hole.

The Castle Royle GC pro is in a group at five-under.

•To see live scoring in Wednesday’s final round click here.

The post Al Sharif flies flag for Saudi golf in challenge for Royal Golf Club Bahrain Open title appeared first on Golf North.