Leitmannstetter rallies to claim maiden win on 

MENA Golf Tour's Ghala Open

 By VIREN VARMA

MUSCAT,  Oman — Aaron Leitmannstetter overhauled a five-shot deficit to capture the Ghala Open in windy and dusty conditions for his maiden victory on the MENA Golf Tour today.

The 23-year-old German closed with a superb six-under 66 to reach 10-under for the tournament, one clear of joint overnight leader Ahmed Marjan of Morocco as Sweden’s Fredrik From finished in solo third a further shot adrift.

Playing in the day’s sixth last group, Leitmannstetter reeled off seven birdies against a lone bogey to leave a strong field trailing in his wake as he become the first German to inscribe his name on a MENA Tour Trophy. 

“It feels amazing to get the job done this time around after finishing second in this very tournament,” said the Dubai-based German after receiving the winner’s trophy from Ziyad Al Zubair, a board member of Ghala Golf Club, and Moroccan Ambassador to Oman Tariq El Hsissen.

“It was quite windy out there, I though a 10-under would be a good target and luckily I managed to achieve that. Very, very happy with performance during the week, said Leitmannstetter, who is playing in his third season on the MENA Golf Tour. 

Morocco’s Marjan was left ruing shots that got away, especially on the 16th where he was sitting for an eagle, but three putted from 24 feet for par. A birdie on the closing hole could have forced a playoff, but he left it short from 15 feet.

“Yes, I had my chances, but couldn’t take them. Overall, very pleased to finish second. It was good week and I can take many positives from this event. Almost every part of my game fell into place, it’s just that I couldn’t get over the line which is a shame.” 

Chile’s Matias Calderon and the English duo of Benjamin David and Todd Clements shared the leading amateur award after the trio finished on matching five-under 211s.

SCOTSWATCH: Jack Doherty's back-to-back 68s over the final two rounds elevated him to a share of seventh place in the final standings on five-under 211. He earned £1,033.
Rookie Jack McDonald earned £690 for a joint 15th finish on 212 with rounds of 70, 70 and 72.
Aberdeen-born Clarke Lutton, the leading Scot with one round to go, nosedived to a joint 20th finish with a 75 for 213. He earned £557.
Paul Doherty finished T43 on 220 with rounds of 74, 73 and 73.

MENA TOUR - Ghala Open
Ghala Golf Club, Muscat, Oman
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
206 A Leitmannstetter (Ger) 70 70 66.
207 A Marjan (Mor) 70 65 72
208 F From (Swe) 72 66 70.

SCOTS' TOTALS
211 J Doherty 75 68 68 (T7)
212 J McDonald 70 70 72 (T15)
213 C Lutton 70 68 75, D Kay 70 71 72 (T20)
220 P Doherty 74 73 73 (T42)

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