SCOTS 1-2 FINISH AT MENA TOUR Q

SCHOOL IN MOROCCO

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Jack Doherty and Grant Forrest made it a Scottish 1-2 at the top of the final totals in the MENA Tour Qualifying School at El Jadida Golf Club, Magazan, Morocco today (Thursday).

Doherty, pictured, had rounds of 73, 74 and 69 for a level par total of 216 and a three-stroke victory from former Scottish amateur champion and Walker Cup player Forrest (75-71-73).

Scott Newbould, a third Scot in the field, failed to gain playing rights on the MENA Tour. He finished outside the leading 55 qualifiers with a T63 placing, thanks to rounds of 84, 83 and 77 for 244.

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Top 55 players earn tour cards at Royal Golf El Jadida for the 2017 season

 

By VIREN VARMA

EL JADIDA (Morocco), March 9 — Jack Doherty clicked into gear after overcoming a slow start to win the MENA Tour’s Qualifying School at Royal Golf El Jadida on Wednesday.

Starting the final day tied for sixth, two shots off the pace, Doherty closed with a three-under 69 to reach level par for the tournament, beating his nearest challenger and fellow Scot Grant Forrest, who returned a 73, by a good three shots.

 

Spain’s Gabriel Canizares rode on a solid back nine which he played in four under en route to a 71 shared third on four over along with England’s Paul Dwyer and joint overnight leader Leonardo Axel Lilja Moyano of Spain.

It was Doherty, the elder brother of MENA Tour regular Paul, who took centre-stage, responding to two early bogeys with back-to-back birdies on the 7th and eighth, playing his last 12 holes in five under to get over the line.

Scotland’s Forrest, who was part of Great Britain and Ireland’s triumphant Walker Cup team in 2015 which defeated the United States by a record winning margin of 16 ½  – 9 ½ at Royal Lytham and St Annes, rolled in a crucial birdie on the closing hole to ensure a remarkable 1-2 finish for Scotland.

India’s Feroz Singh Garewal, who shared the overnight lead with Moyano, slipped to tied 10th on seven over after signing for a 78 as England’s Danny Poulter, finished in a three-way tie for seventh on six-over 222, a stroke behind England’s Nicholas Mccarthy.

Former England cricketer Craig Kieswetter, who has set himself the target of being a regular on the European Tour, birdied two of his last four holes for a closing 75 that left him in a share of 31st at 18 over.

Elsewhere, UAE’s Ahmed Al Musharrekh finished in a tie for 53rd on 23 over after posting a final round 78 as top 55 and ties from the final stage were awarded the MENA Tour cards for the 2017 season.

The MENA Tour will travel to Palmeraie Country Club in the Moroccan port city of Casablanca for the first time for the opening event of the season, starting on March 14.

 

An initiative of the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation, the MENA