Tuesday, November 03, 2015

CLARKE  HAULS HIMSELF INTO CONTENTION

 AT RAK CLASSIC WITH A 66

MENA TOUR REPORT
from VIREN VARMA 
RAS AL KHAIMAH, UAE – Darren Clarke hauled himself back into contention with a sizzling six-under 66 to lie just two shots off the pace going into Wednesdays' final round of the MENA Golf Tour’s Ras Al Khaimah Classic

The 2016 European Ryder Cup captain mixed eight birdies with two bogeys to reach seven under for the tournament as South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence backed up his opening 69 with a 66 to claim a one-shot lead at nine under over Morocco’s Faycal Serghini.

Clarke, who is the patron of the MENA Golf Tour, picked up shots in his first two holes to set the tone for the day. He rounded off in a similar fashion with back-to-back birdies, putting himself in prime position for the final day charge.

Joining the 47-year-old Ulsterman in a four-way tie for third at seven-under were the English duo of James Allan (amateur) and Craig Hinton and South Africa’s Tyler Hogarty.

Young English prospect Allan, who flirted with victory before finishing second in a play-off at the recent Ascorp Golf Citizen Open, sounded confident of going the full distance this time around.

“I look forward to competing against a such a top-quality field. You never know what tomorrow holds, but I am playing well. The confidence is there and let’s see what happens,” said the 21-year-old from Chelmsford. T
A victory against a such a talented field, headlined by European Tour winners — Stephen Dodd, Malcolm Mackenzie and Miles Tunnicliff in addition to Clarke — could well mark a defining moment in the career of Allan, who is waiting for the “right moment” to turn professional. 
Allan’s closest rival in the amateur division, Rayhan Thomas of India, also made a perceptible charge up the leaderboard, carding a second round 67 to move to two-under for the tournament.

Morocco’s Serghini, who currently leads the MENA Division, returned a 70 to go eight-under, putting himself in the frame of his maiden win on the tour. 
“I am striking the ball well and hopefully it will get even better,” said the 38-year-old from Casablanca, who is a three-time runner-up on the tour. “I feel like I am in good position and may be able to get over the line this time around.”



SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 144 (2x72)
135 T Lawrence (SAfr) 69 66
136 F Serghini (Mor) 66 70
137 T Hogarty (SAfr) 70 67, J Allan (Eng) (am) 67 70, C Hinton (Eng) 68 69, D Clarke (NIr) 71 66

SCOTS' SCORES

143 T Innes-Ker 68 75 (T21)
145  B Alexander (am) 74 74 (T30)
146 P Doherty 73 73 (T34)
MISSED THE CUT
150 C Lutton 73 77, D Kay 74 76


TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

CLICK HERE

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Darren Clarke unveils MENA Golf Tour Qualifying School

NEWS RELEASE
RAS AL KHAIMAH – The MENA Golf Tour is on the verge of a new dawn with the launch of the inaugural Qualifying School, offering a simplified roadmap for earning playing status on the tour in 2016.
Open to all professionals and amateurs — with a handicap of one or better — the 54-hole Q-School will be held at Almenara Golf Club in the Spanish resort of Sotogrande in the Cadiz province, in two stages in February next year.
The first stage, on February 14-16, will see players compete over 36 holes of stroke play when the half-way cut will be made, winnowing down the field for a final stage 18-hole competition to be held the following day.
The introduction of the Q-School, conforming to the guidelines set forth by the game’s apex body, will pave the way for the MENA Golf Tour to become eligible for Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) status. 
Entries, including that of amateurs, will no longer be based on date and time, but rather by one’s ranking based on performance in the Q-School. The official entry form will be made available on the tour’s website.

The launch of the Q-School is part of an ambitious plan to expand the schedule of the MENA Golf Tour to close to 20 events, covering new destinations like Kuwait, Egypt, Spain, South Africa and Thailand in 2016.
Calling it an exciting development, Darren Clarke, Patron, MENA Golf Tour and 2016 Europen Ryder Cup Captain, said: “I look forward to welcoming all players and hope to see some new blood hit the front.
“There has been a lot of fresh talent coming up through the ranks over the last few years, but the opportunities are very limited for young professional golfers to develop and showcase their skills on a global basis.
“This is one tour which provides the springboard to gain the right competitive atmosphere to gain professional experience, especially, amateur golfers. They are the ones who hold the key to the development of the game in the region.”
Mohamed Juma Buamaim, chairman of the MENA Golf Tour, commented: “We believe the Q-School will enhance the level of competition in addition to bringing more transparency in determining the fields for our events. 
“I am confident that the MENA Golf Tour will soon be eligible for official golf ranking status which will provide a fresh energy boost to the growth of golf in the region,” he added.
“We enjoy great relationships with the Arab Golf Federation and all associations that are part of the apex body in the Arab world and appreciate all the hard work the host venues do in preparing the courses in top condition.
“Our tour has become stronger over the years, due to the continued backing of premier clubs in the region.”
An initiative of the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation, the MENA Golf Tour was created in 2011 with the aim of developing golf in the region. It is affiliated to RandA, the worldwide golf governing body based in the home of golf, St Andrews, and the Arab Golf Federation. 
Added incentives for the tour members include guaranteed spots in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and various invitations to other European Tour tournaments around the globe, including the Hassan II Trophy in Morocco and the Malaysian Open.

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Tee times for NE Alliance at Cruden Bay tomorrow




Players will leave the tee in fours at tomorrow's North-east Golfers Alliance competition for the Ron Menzies Memorial Trophies at Cruden Bay.


8-00 C Cassie T Boyle G Esson B Harper
8-10 D Booth R Blackmore R Reid
8-20 D Wright P Cheyne T Robertson S Leslie
8-30 L Roger J Hamilton M Rendal H Roulston
8-40 D Mackay K Nicol G Mcbain T Matheson
8-50 C Dempster G Chalmers S Hanson S Ross


9.00 M Brown R Brown S Davidson D Cragie
9.10 J Duff P McLean B Ritchie S Roger
9.20 B Fyfe C Grant D Townsley
9.30 A Stuart K Daglish S Dunn G Milne
9.40 H McNaughton B Mcpherson S Shand J Duncan
9.50 R Davidson S Allison M Forster P Walker


10.00 J Forrest N Stewart J Hopwood D Adam
10.10 S Mackie J Hosie B Skene M Winton
10.20 G Homer D Leslie C Nelson R Lumsden
10.30 D Fleming J Emslie L Fowler M Duncan
10.40 A Gall I Clark L Vannet A Clark
10.50 S Lawrie D Bisset J Murray J Nicolson


11.00 D Brown M Lawrie T Collie G Cochran
11.10 G Thom R Ruddiman D Lane R Duncan
11.20 K McGillivary J Stewart L Duncan W Beattie
11.30 P Low J Borthwick S Finnie D McKay
11.40 N Parker M Rogers A Graham D Nelson
11.50 E Riley G Riley R O'Donnell M Smith


12.00 S Kiloh R Cameron K Zeynalov I Taylor
12.10 K Duncan A Dunton M Patterson R McKen
12.20 R Lamb C Lamb M Merchant

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HSBC extends worldwide golf sponsorship
 
SHANGHAI (AP) - HSBC is extending its golf sponsorship for five more years with the World Golf Championship event in Shanghai and the European Tour event in Abu Dhabi.
Financial terms of the wide-ranging sponsorship were not disclosed Tuesday.
The HSBC Champions, which starts Thursday, began in 2005 and was given WGC status in 2009. US PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem says the prize money in 2016 will go up to $9.5 million, bringing it in line with the other American-based WGCs.
Giles Morgan, the global head of sponsorship and events for HSBC, announced a five-year extension for the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, and a three-year deal to extend the HSBC Women’s Champions in Singapore on the LPGA Tour.
HSBC also is a main sponsor of the Open.

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HSBC Champions tournament in China


Billy Horschel out, Cameron Smith in
 
SHANGHAI (AP) - Billy Horschel flew halfway around the world only to withdraw from the HSBC Champions with a sore back.
Horschel tweaked his back before leaving Florida for the final World Golf Championship of the year. 
The 2014 FedEx Cup champion gave it two days and tried to stretch it out on Tuesday before a practice round until deciding it was not worth risking hurting it more.
Horschel has been replaced in the 78-man field at Sheshan International by Cameron Smith of Australia.

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