Next week’s Hero Indian Open – co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours – has been called off as a result of the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak

NEXT week’s Hero Indian Open has been postponed due to the ongoing threat posed by the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

The decision was made following consultation between the Indian Golf Union, the tournament’s co-sanctioning partners – the European Tour and the Asian Tour – and the tournament title sponsor Hero MotoCorp.

The move came after the latest public health travel advice announced by the Indian government.

The Hero Indian Open was scheduled to take place from March 19-22 at DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurugram, New Delhi – Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher would have been the defending champion.

All parties are looking into the possibility of rescheduling the tournament at some point later in the year, but there are no definitive plans at this stage.

European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley said: “In these difficult global circumstances, we fully understand and appreciate the recent restrictions introduced in respect of travel into India.

“As these new measures now prevent many members of both Tours being able to play in the tournament, everyone involved in the staging of the Hero Indian Open felt it was the correct decision to postpone the tournament.

“I would like to thank Dr Pawan Munjal and everyone at Hero MotoCorp in addition to the Indian Golf Union for their continued support, and we look forward to returning to India in due course.”

Cho Minn Thant, chief executive and commissioner of the Asian Tour, said: “With these new travel regulations now in place, there has been a significant impact on the ability of our members, officials and service teams of both Tours to make their entry into India for the tournament.

“We will continue to take advice from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and local health authorities – while monitoring the situation in relation to the possibility of rescheduling the event later in the year.”

European Tour players who are not in the world’s top 50 – and therefore exempt on the PGA Tour – now face a dearth of golf over the next two months.

There are no European Tour events scheduled for five weeks in a row – including the week of The Masters at Augusta (April 91-12) – starting from the World Golf Championship World Match Play Championship, in Austin, Texas, in the last week of March (25-29).

The next European Tour event is scheduled to be the Estrella Damm NA Andalucia Masters, at Valderrama, from April 30-May 3.

The original 2020 European Tour schedule comprised 44 events including the four Majors, plus the Ryder Cup against the USA at Whistlling Straits, in Wisconsin, in September.

•The women’s LPGA Tour called off two of its biggest events earlier in February – the Honda LPGA Thailand (February 20-23) and the HSBC Women’s World Championship a week later.

The LPGA announcement came on February 10 as the virus originally took hold in Asia and after it had already called off the Blue Bay LPGA in China – due to take place on Hainan Island, from March 5-8 – at the end of January.

MENA Tour called halt to season

Ryan Lumsden (right) celebrates his MENA TOUR victory in Jordan

The MENA Tour also abandoned their spring season after the first four events in 2020 – as the virus outbreak impacted on the golf world with other top sporting events also being cancelled around the world.

The United Arab Emirates-based MENA Tour – which holds a string of events across the Middle East for players working their way up to the European and Challenge Tours – announced the temporary halt to the season on social media last week.

It tweeted on March 5: “Unfortunately, due to the various travel issues caused by the ongoing COVID-19 situation, the MENA Tour by Arena has decided to postpone the remainder of our 2020 season to September-December.

“We will post the new schedule as soon as possible.”

In December, the MENA Tour, which was founded in 2011, announced 11 events played across five countries, including one in North Africa, during the first five months of 2020.

It announced the halt to play after the fourth event of the season – the Journey to Jordan No. 2, which was won by Royal Wimbledon’s Ryan Lumsden, at Ayla Golf Club, in Jordan.

In a statement since published on its website, the tour said: “We are monitoring the situation on a daily basis and we will be publishing the revised 2020 MENA Tour by Arena schedule on our website as soon as possible – all players will be informed of the revised schedule via email.”

The MENA Tour statement on Twitter last week after it cancelled seven events

Magical Kenya Open third event lost

THIS week’s Magical Kenya Open was cancelled by the European at the end of last week after a similar decision was made by the East African country’s government.

The Government of Kenya decided to postpone all meetings and conferences of an international nature in the country.

The Magical Kenyan Open became the third European Tour event of 2020 to be called off because of the Coronavirus crisis.

In the middle of February, the European and Asian Tour announced that April’s Maybank Championship in Malaysia, and the Volvo China Open, were being postponed because of the Coronavirus outbreak.

As in the case of India, Mr Pelley said the Tour would consider rescheduling the tournament later in the year, but admitted last week that the idea was only a possibility with no definitive plans in place.

The Kenyan Government said the suspension of international events would be reviewed after a month.

Italy’s Guido Miggliozi was due to defend his title in Kenya this week.

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Finland’s Mikko Korhonen – winner of the 2019 Volvo China Open, which has been postponed because of the Corona-virus threat, along with Malaysia’s Maybank Championship, in April. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

TWO European Tour events in Asia – scheduled to be played in April – have been postponed because of the health threat posed by the outbreak of the Corona-virus.

The Maybank Championship and the Volvo China Open have both been postponed following the outbreak in China in December, of what has now been named Covid-19 – by the World Heath Organisation – after the corona-virus spread to a number of different countries, including the UK, this month.

The European Tour and Asian Tour accepted a request from title sponsor and promoter Maybank to postpone the Maybank Championship – due to take place at Saujana Golf & Country Club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – from April 16-19.

Meanwhile the decision to postpone the Volvo China Open scheduled for April 23-26, at Genzon Golf Club, in Shenzhen, was taken following consultations with the China Golf Association, Genzon Golf Club, the Shenzhen Government, title sponsor Volvo and promoters Mitime Golf.

Discussions are ongoing with all parties looking into the possibility of rescheduling both tournaments later this season.

European Tou chief executive Keith Pelley said: “The well-being of our players, spectators and staff is always our absolute priority.

“While it is therefore regrettable the Maybank Championship and Volvo China Open have been postponed, we feel this is the correct course of action at this time.

“We are currently investigating alternative dates for both events,” added Mr Pelley, whose members lower down the Race to Dubai rankings face a much harder task to retain their European Tour cards, if the two events are not able to be rescheduled later in the year.

Datuk Abdul Farid Alias, group president and chief executive of Maybank, said: “The decision to postpone the Maybank Championship was made after intense deliberation and careful consideration in the interest of all the players, visitors, working teams and partners.

“The postponement of the Maybank Championship was not an easy decision to make.

“However, the safety of all stakeholders takes precedence, and we want to ensure that any risk of possible exposure to Covid-19 is mitigated.

“We will monitor the situation and work closely with the European and Asian Tours, as well as our other partners, as we plan for our return in the future.”

•Last year’s Volvo China Open was won by Finland’s Mikko Korhonen. Australia’s Scott Hend would have been the defending champion in the Maybank Championship.

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Li Haotong (left) with Phil Mickelson at the 2019 World Golf Championship HSBC Champions at Sheshan International Golf Club. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

CHINA’S leading golfer Li Haotong has signed a worldwide management representaion deal with IMG covering all commercial activity.

Tiger Woods amassed the biggest fortune in golf during his 15 years as a client of IMG. Picture by David Mark from Pixabay

IMG – founded by lawyer Mark McCormack in the 1960s – revolutionised sports management in golf and tennis in particular.

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Woburn’s Steve Lewton has given himself an excellent chance of earning a card for the Korn Ferry Tour, in the USA, after a second round 63 which put him in th lead at the final stage of the Qualifying School, at Florida’s Orange County.

STEVE Lewton carded a bogey-free 63 at Orange County National’s Panther Lake course in rainy conditions Friday to claim the 36-hole lead at 14-under 129 at the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament’s Final Stage.

After posting a six-under 66 on Thursday, Lewton kept his foot on the pedal during Friday’s second round.

After making the turn at two-under for the day, the Woburn man caught fire over his final nine holes.

Lewton tallied birdies at Nos. 10 and 11 to reach 10-under for the week. After three consecutive pars, the 36-year-old rallied down the stretch with birdies on his final four holes of the day to reach 14-under for the tournament.

“I played pretty solid on the front but didn’t really hole anything,” Lewton said. “On the back nine, my putter just got hot and I hit a couple of shots close which helps.

“I birdied three of the par-threes which I think are generally the toughest holes around this place.

“I finished strong and I’ve been playing pretty well, so hopefully I can carry that on to the next couple of days.”

Players battled rainy conditions on Friday as play was delayed for an hour and 45 minutes.

Despite the difficult weather, Lewton was able to hit 17 greens in regulation during his second round and has only missed three fairways over his first 36 holes.

Lewton, who is playing in his first Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament, has experience playing around the world but returned to the United States to make a run at the Korn Ferry Tour.

Prior to his professional career, Lewton played his collegiate golf at North Carolina State University from 2003-7, and played on the European Tour in 2011 after earning his card at the Qualifying School.

Thirty-six-year-old Lewton earned his Asian Tour card at its Q-School at the end of that season and spent five years playing in the Far East.

The former England Boys and Men’s international – who was raised in the Milton Keynes area – missed out on place on the 2007 Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup, alongside Rory McIlroy, at Royal County Down, having been named in The R&A’s original squad that year.

He had been runner-up behind McIlroy at the 2006 European Amateur Championship, missing out on a place at the 2007 Open at Carnoustie.

Lewton’s maiden victory came in the 2014 Mercuries Taiwan Masters. Lewton also won the 2017 Solaire Philippine Open.

“I’ve always wanted to play golf in America, I’ve just never come across this Q-School before,” said Lewton, who has played on the Asian and European Challenge Tours since turning pro in 2008.

“I’ve been playing solid this year so that’s why I decided to come have a go.

“That was probably my main reason behind it because I enjoy playing golf over here,” said Lewton, who was a member of the same England Boys squad as Nick Dougherty and Zane Scotland.

Chasing group’s three-ball shot 23-under

TIED in second place behind Lewton is Taylor Dickson, who carded a bogey-free 65 on Orange County National’s Crooked Cat course.

Starting on the back nine, the Winthrop University product recorded one birdie on his first nine holes.

After making the turn, the 27-year-old found his rhythm with six birdies over his final nine holes to reach 13-under for the tournament.

Dickson, who has yet to make a bogey this week, had great motivation from his group during the second round.

Both his playing partners, Santiago Gomez and Tom Whitney, carded bogey-free second rounds of their own, as they combined to shoot 23-under.

“None of us in our group made any bogeys today, that was awesome. I’ve never been a part of that,” Dickson said.

“I hit my driver really well, I don’t think I missed a fairway and got up and down whenever I got out of position.”

Joining Dickson at 13-under is Curtis Thompson who carded a second round nine-under 62 on the Panther Lake course.

The Louisiana State University graduate tallied six birdies and two eagles including an eagle on the par-five 18^th, his final hole of the day.

“Well, two eagles helps. I was making putts and obviously missed a few early that were makeable but made up for it,” said Thompson, who also celebrated his 27^th birthday on Friday.

“There weren’t very many mistakes.”

Nick Hardy sits alone in fourth place at 12-under after posting a second round nine-under 63 on the Crooked Cat course.

•For live scoring in the third round click here.

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Daniel Gaunt, who is attached to Burhill GC, in Surrey, was second on the 2019 Journey to Jordan, eaning starts on the Asian and Challenge Tours as well as the Dubai Desert Classic.

MENA Tour players will be able to earn invites to play on the Alps Tour in 2020 as well as having the opportunity to earn starts on the European and Asian Tours plus the Challenge Tour.

In addition to the invites to the European Tour’s 2020 Omega Dubai Desert Classic in January, which are handed out to the leading two professionals on the 2019 Journey to Jordan Order of Merit – plus the top amateur – there are more incentives for MENA members in the New Year.

On top of a schedule which features 11 tournaments in five countries in the Middle East and North Africa region, there will be an extra place in the 2021 Omega Dubai Desert Classic for the professional finishing third on the 2020 MENA Order of Merit.

The Dubai event is the oldest European Tour event in the Middle East, dating from the early 1990s, in which time the views of the city skyline from the Emirates Course fairways have changed beyond all recognition.

The Journey to Jordan professional winner will also receive an Asian Tour country exemption card for the 2021 season, a full card on the 2020 Alps Tour and three Challenge Tour invites, as well as the Dubai Desert start.

The leading amateur will also receive an Alps Tour exemption for 2020 and at least one start on the European Challenge Tour.

The second-placed professional on the Journey to Jordan gets three starts on the Asian Tour, a full card on the 2020 Alps Tour and an exemption to the final stage of the Asian Tour Qualifying School.

The third and fourth placed professionals on the Arena sponsored MENA Tour also receive full cards on the Alps Tour and a place in the final stage of the Asian Tour Qualifying School.

The third-ranked player also gets an Omega Dubai Desert Classic spot and two starts on the Challenge Tour.

The winner of the Ghala Open, which is to be held from February 16-19 at Ghala Golf Club, in Muscat, Oman, will receive a spot at the European Tour’s $1.75 million Oman Open at Al Mouj Golf the following week.

MENA Tour strategic adviser David Spencer said: “One of the biggest objectives for us is to provide our members with pathways to some of the main tours and increase their playing opportunities.

“Our announcement today will definitely excite the players. There are a few more invitations which we will reveal in due course.

“We are thankful to the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, the Asian Tour and our new partners Alps Tour in helping us create these wonderful opportunities for them.”

The MENA Tour was established in the United Arab Emirates in 2011 and has grown over the years to become one of the most exciting development tours in the world.

With a minimum prize fund of $75,000 and Official World Golf Ranking points, it offers excellent growth opportunities for professionals and the top amateurs.

The 2020 season starts with the qualifying school at Ayla Golf Club in Aqaba, Jordan, from January 20 onwards, when the next generation of MENA Tour players will start their professional careers.

Registration for the qualifying schools are now being accepted online at www.menatour.golf

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Gleneagles pro Calum Hill jumped up to the top of the leaderboad in the second round of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open with a sparkling 64. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

EUROPEAN Challenge Tour graduate Calum Hill will take a one-shot lead into the weekend at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open after a stunning second round 64.

The Scot recorded a top 15 finish at last week’s Alfred Dunhill Championship to get the season off to a promising start.

And he brought that form to Heritage Golf Club, moving to 12-under as he matched the low round of the week.

Hill won twice in 2019 to secure his European Tour card, and he now leads his second event of the new season after recording nine birdies and just a single bogey on Friday.

The final gain – a 20-foot putt on the last – was enough to edge the 25-year-old ahead of South African Rolex Series winner Brandon Stone, Belgian Thomas Detry and Frenchman Matthieu Pavon, who all reached 11-under par at Bel Ombre.

Hill, who is attached to Gleneagles, said: “The last couple of days the game has been nice. Managed to get the putter going well today, which added up to a good score.

“Last week was a slow start and I played better at the weekend. I’ve just built on it from there.

“I’m happy with that, especially to make a putt on the last hole to finish off a good round. I made a lot of long range putts – 20-25 foot – probably made four of those.

It has been a case of so far, so good on the European Tour for the winner of the Euram Bank Open and the Made in Denmark Challenge.

Hill, who hails from Kirckaldy, added: “We seem to be following the sunshine so we’re always playing in warm weather and the courses are in great condition.

“I haven’t noticed a huge difference yet coming from Challenge Tour,” said the 25-year-old who graduated from Western New Mexico University

“Obviously the fields are stronger, but it’s the same as every tournament you play – you go out and do your best, see where that puts you at the end of the week, and dig in when you need to.”

Stone looks to go low over weekend while Detry’s trusting his confidence

BRANDON Stone, who is looking for a fourth European Tour win since promotion from the Challenge Tour four years ago was also pleased with his performance.

“Very happy with how things went,” said Stone. “I got off to a nice start this morning – a couple of birdies early which kind of settled the nerves a little bit. And then from there I just played great all day.

“Very low stress, always in play, gave myself a lot of opportunities and managed to convert a fair number of them and sitting 11-under par going into the weekend is exactly where you want to be.

“The target for the weekend to is go as low as we can go, actually,” said last year’s Scottish Open winner who fired a final round 60 at Gullane to land his first Rolex Series title.

“It’s going to be a challenge and at the same time, there’s a lot of really top quality players in the field, so you’re going to go out and try to shoot as low as you can and, hopefully, by Sunday evening it’s going to be enough.

Detry who is looking to join fellow Belgians Thomas Pieters and Nicholas Colsearts as winner on the European Tour is enjoying his debut in Mauritius.

Rookie Rasmum R1 leader in Mauritius Open

“It’s my first time in Mauritius,” said Detry. “The place is absolutely lovely, the course is in great condition. I love the place.

“Very happy – shot five-under yesterday, six-under today. We’ve done a few mistakes here and there, but have managed to recover them pretty well.

“Shot eight-under on my last 14 holes so that was a pretty good performance and gets it going for the next two days.

“I’ve been taking it very relaxed, haven’t really practised too much. I’ve been playing well the last few weeks.

“I made it to Dubai after playing well in Sun City and Turkey. I’ve been relying on my confidence and it’s been working.”

French pair Benjamin Hebert and Antoine Rozner, American Sihwan Kim and Scotland’s Connor Syme are one shot further back in the pack chasing Calum Hill.

Denmark rookie Rasmus Højgaard, who was one of five players to share the first-round lead, and fellow countryman Søren Kjeldsen are on nine-under with South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout, who is looking for his second victory in the calendar year.

The event is tri-sanctioned with the Asian and Sunshine Tours.

•For live scoring from the third round of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open click here.

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South Africa’s George Coetzee is aiming to add a second AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open title at Bel Hombre, after his play-off victory in 2015. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

FOUR-time European Tour winner George Coetzee is aiming to seal a second AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open title at Heritage Golf Club, after triumphing in a play-off to win the inaugural edition in 2015.

The South African, who finished 60th on the 2019 Race to Dubai, has appeared in all four previous editions of the tournament and is aiming to become the first player to win the title twice.

If Coetzee can achieve that feat it would also be a second European Tour event that he has won on two occasions, following his Tshwane Open triumphs in 2015 and 2018.

George Coetzee said: “Lots of good memories from the first year here. I remember playing the 18th hole a couple more times than I wanted to, but it was a good week.

“It was nice to win a tournament outside of South Africa, and it was just a special week for me.

“It’s very social, very casual but some very serious golf. It’s a nice blend of everything,” Coetzee said about playing in Mauritius.

“I might be burning out a little bit with the amount of golf I have played but I’m still feel like I’m playing pretty well,” said Coetzee, who lost an opportunity to win the French Open at Le Paris National in October.

After a relatively six months after his second place finish in Qatar, in March, Coetzee’s late collapse on the notoriously difficult course that staged the 2018 Ryder Cup, allowed Belgium’s Nicholas Colsearts to claim his first win since 2012.

“At the moment I’m just enjoying the golf and then over Christmas I’ll put my plans together,” added George Coetzee about forming a scheduling for 2020 having played 29 times in the past 12 months.

Coetzee’s victory in Bel Ombre four years ago was a special one, as it represented the first title he had won outside of his home country, after opening his European Tour account with victory at the 2014 Joburg Open.

Lawrie named 2020 Junior Ryder Cup captain

Scottish Major winner Paul Lawrie is looking forward to an altogether different Mauritius double – after making his debut in the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, he will tee it up in the Staysure Tour’s season-ending MCB Tour Championship – Mauritius next week.

The 1999 Open Champion – who was announced as the 2020 European Junior Ryder Cup Captain today (Wednesday) – turned 50 in January.

And the two-time Ryder Cup player announced his arrival on the senior circuit in some style, winning the Scottish Senior Open in the summer.

Lawrie’s looking forward to competing with some of the newer faces on European, Asian and Sunshine Tours when the action in the tri-sanctioned tournament gets under way at Heritage Golf Club on Thursday.

But he will also be soaking up all that Mauritius has to offer.

Lawrie said: “It’s my first time in Mauritius, it’s beautiful, absolutely lovely.

“ I looked at the schedule and saw that European Tour was here this week and the Staysure Tour up the coast next week. I thought – it’s the perfect two weeks.

“For the players that are getting older and older like me, and playing seniors more often, it’s weird. You get on the range and you don’t know half the Tour when you come to hit balls.

“That’s a good thing, you need to get young talent in and keep the conveyor belt rolling, as it were.

“The scoring is just brilliant, the standard on the Tour is getting better and better. That’s only going to be a good thing for everyone.”

Langasque looking to go one better

THE field at the second event on the 2020 Race to Dubai also includes a host of promising young players including Romain Langasque – who finished in third place the last time the event was played at this venue two years ago.

Langasque, who won the 2015 Amateur Championship at Carnoustie said: “It’s always a pleasure to come back here, and especially to this course where I finished third two years ago.

“It’s a place where I feel great, so I’m really happy to be here. I’ve been a Heritage ambassador for one year now.

“It’s always good to come back here because of the resort, but also because of the course. It’s a very challenging course, especially with the wind like today.

“This is a place where it is windy most of the time, so we have to learn to play with it.

“But the good thing is that because of the wind there are so many options on this course – you can be offensive or less so,” added Langasque, who won the 2016 Spanish Amateur by beating Hampshire’s Scott Gregory in the final.

The Frenchman is joined on the Indian Ocean island by Final Stage Qualifying School winner Benjamin Poke, from Denmark.

Two other notable debutants are teeing it up in Mauritius – four-time European Tour winner Thomas Pieters, who made his Ryder Cup debut in the heavy defeat at Hazeltine, under Darren Clarke in 2016, and his compatriot and fellow ISPS Handa World Cup of Golf winner Thomas Detry.

•For first round tee times in the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius 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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Scot Stephen Gallacher claimed his first win in five years at the age of 44 at the Hero Indian Open. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

STEPHEN Gallacher birdied three of his last four holes to produce a stunning comeback and win his first European Tour title in five years at the Hero Indian Open.

The Scot had shared the first round lead but a second round 74 saw him slip back and his chances looked doomed when he made a quadruple bogey eight on the seventh hole on Sunday.

The lead kept moving backwards on a windy day at DLF Golf and Country Club, but as he stood on the 15th tee, Gallacher still looked an outside bet facing one of the toughest closing stretches on the Race to Dubai because of that snowman on the seventh.

The 2014 Ryder Cup star knows a thing or two about performing under pressure, however.

And he took advantage of the par five before hitting stunning approaches into the 17th and last to claim his first win since the second of back to back Omega Dubai Desert Classic titles in 2014.

On Mother’s Day back in his native Scotland, it was a father and son show in New Delhi, with son Jack caddying for Gallacher this season in what is likely to be a permanent move for the duo.

A closing 71 moved the 44-year-old to nine-under and gave him a one-shot win over Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura, with Spaniard Jorge Campillo a further shot back.

A delighted Gallacher said: “Today the wind was swirling and the course was playing really tough.

“I was three behind the lead at the start of the day and got off to quite a solid start and then I hit a quadruple-bogey on hole seven. I was pretty calm at that point of time, I stood on the eighth tee and saw I was only five shots behind.

“I told myself to stick to the game and you never know what can happen. Especially with how hard it was playing and I came back three-under in the last four holes.

“I thought, ‘just hang in there’. When I birdied 15 I saw that Julian Suri had come back and then when I got to the 16th green I was tied for the lead. I just tried to finish as strong as I could, and I did that.

“Thankfully it was enough. I am 45 this year so I am really proud of what I did out here today. It changes my schedule and I can play a bit less and it was great to win with my son Jack on the bag.

“He has caddied for me 20 events already. It has been a great day. It was great to have him on the bag and Mother’s Day as well makes it even more special.”

Masahiro Kawamura, who has one win to his name on the Asian Tour back in 2013, admitted feeling nervous coming down the stretch. He said: “The round was very good especially in such tough conditions.

“I wasn’t playing very well in the front nine and was struggling on a lot of the holes and I had some missed shots, but the back nine I played very well.

“The course was tough today, but I managed to come back.

“Coming into the last two holes and seeing my name on the leaderboad, I was really nervous,” said the Asian Tour winner, who claimed the 11^th card at the European Tour School, in November, at Spain’s Lumine GC.

Kawamura added: “I knew how important the final hole was and I hit a good shot but was just unlucky.

“Last year I finished second three times on the Japan Tour, lost by one shot twice and once in a play-off. Now I finished second by one shot this time again.”

American Julian Suri had led by three after 12 holes but produced a quadruple bogey of his own on the treacherous 14th to slip back, and he finished alongside South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout at six-under.

Bezuidenhout made six birdies and two bogeys in a 68 that handed him a third top 10 in four events and he finished three shots off the lead, one ahead of fellow South Africans George Coetzee and Erik van Rooyen, Spaniard Nacho Elvira and Hertfordshire’s Callum Shinkwin.

Finn Kalle Samooja made the third hole-in-one of the week with a pitching wedge from 139 yards on the 12th for the eighth ace of the season.

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A second successive 67 by New Yorker Julian Suri sees the Made in Denmark winner top of leaderboard at the Hero Indian Open. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

JULIAN Suri fired a second consecutive round of 67 to take a two-shot lead into the weekend at the Hero Indian Open.

The American was heading home on Friday night 12 months ago at DLF Golf and Country Club after posting 76-82… but he was 24 shots better off than that this time around at 10-under par.

Suri is playing just his second event of the season after undergoing surgery on an abdominal hernia.

But the New Yorker showed he was in fine health in New Delhi, picking up six shots in as many holes from the first to surge clear in the morning session.

Suri said: “I put the foot down, but I had the same mindset I had really on the first nine.

“I hit it really well the whole day and I just tried to free it up a little bit on the second nine with my putting.

“I hit a lot of good shots and gave myself a ton of chances on the first nine and none of them dropped, particularly with speed and not hitting them hard enough.

“So, just try to free it up and putt with feel like I normally do.

“I am hitting quite a few drivers. Driver is probably the most comfortable club in the bag for me so I am being pretty aggressive and with the greens being somewhat softer than what they were last year.

“I am coming into the greens with a lot of wedges and pitch shots and stuff, so you can score when you are in a good spot.

“I’ve been playing well, and I knew I was playing well even though the score didn’t show it after the first nine, so just had to keep plugging away and staying patient.”

South African George Coetzee finished his round with three birdies to sit at eight-under alongside Swede Robert Karlsson, who ended his day with gains on the 17th and 18th.

Karlsson, who made back-to-back eagles in the first round said: “It was good. I got off to a really good start.

“I was a bit lucky on the fourth, the pin was in a tricky position but I hit a good shot and it just rolled up behind the green and came back to just a foot. So it ended up being a gimme eagle.

“But there was some very good stuff and I am happy with a couple of birdies to finish off.

“I haven’t been in this position for a long time, so I am staying very humble over the weekend.

“I am just trying to do what I am doing, and pretty much looking at this golf course as just a great test to see what I need to do better.

“I’ve worked hard on my game over the last half year, changed coach (Hans Larsson) and things like that, so it feels like I am heading forward.

“But on this golf course a lot of things can happen quickly and even if it does, I am still showing signs, I have put in a bunch of good rounds lately.”

Coetzee who is looking for his first win since last year’s Tshwane Open, said: “Obviously a little easier today then what I have been playing this course back in the past, but I had fun today, hit some really nice shots and made some nice putts.

“It didn’t look like it was going to be birdie-birdie-birdie finish after my tee shot on 15. But I got my head back in a good space and hit some good shots from there.

“I really enjoy the course, it’s probably one of the prettiest courses we play, and the greens are amazing so there is nothing to complain about.

“I will just take it as it comes and try and stay positive and play golf.”

Hertfordshire’s Callum Shinkwin, from Moor Park, and Australian Scott Hend were then at seven-under after firing the only bogey free rounds of the week so far.

Fifty-three-year old Thai Prayad Marksaeng was at six-under, a shot clear of Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura and Sri Lankan N Thangaraja, with Finn Mikko Korhonen, Scot Richie Ramsay, England’s Robert Rock and Austrian Matthias Schwab six shots off the lead.

There were two holes-in-one on Friday – taking the season’s tally to seven – as Om Pratash Chouhan holed a six-iron on the fifth and Daniel Nisbet holed a four-iron on the third.

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