Mena Golf Tour: Scotland chases back to back Dubai Creek Open titles

A fired-up Zane Scotland is relishing the opportunity to defend his title at the Dubai Creek Open and consolidate his early gains when the Mena Golf Tour resumes after a six-month summer break on Monday September 23.

The Englishman took a relaxed attitude to the opening two events of the tour held in Morocco in March and it paid off as he produced an impressive performance to seize the early lead in the Order of Merit standings.

Enjoying the Moroccan voyage, Scotland opened with an emphatic victory at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam Open in Rabat and followed it up with a tied second-place finish in Royal Golf D’Anfa Open in Mohammedia, near Casablanca, to take his earnings from the two events to $14,000.

The former European Tour player, who was recently named a ‘golf in Dubai’ brand ambassador, had his chances to make it two in a row, but narrowly lost to Stephen Dodd of Wales in a three-way playoff which also featured his compatriot Ian Keenan in Mohammedia.

“I entered the first two events on the Mena Golf Tour with no expectations in terms of results since I was playing for the first time in a competition after the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in February,” said Scotland. “Obviously, I am delighted the way things turned out for me. The goal is to try and keep the early momentum rolling all the way through.”

Scotland will have his work cut out with the likes of Stephen Dodd and Ross McGowan, both European Tour winners, and Asian Tour veterans Ross Bain and Yasin Ali among other seasoned players joining a strong 118-player field, which includes 31 amateurs.

Spearheading the Arab challenge will be Morocco’s Younes El Hassain, who finished runner-up to Scotland in Rabat, and UAE’s Ahmed Al Musharrekh while a strong contingent from Bahrain, comprising seven players, could spring a few surprises.

“There are a plenty of quality players on the tour and the script could well change when the second and final leg of the tour gets under way at Dubai Creek,” said Scotland.

The 31-year-old Englishman showed great strength of character in getting the job done in superb when he held off a late change from experienced Stephen Dodd to win the Dubai Creek Open, the opening event on the 2012 Mena Golf Tour schedule.

“It feels fantastic coming back to a course where you have done well. It adds to the confidence, but it’s a new week and you’ve got to make sure you keep doing everything you need to do to continue with that success,” said Scotland, who is a good $1,794 ahead of Dodd, the defending Mena Tour Order of Merit champion.

England’s Keenan ($8,206) is placed third, ahead of Morocco’s Younes El Hassani ($6,798) and Kenya’s Greg Snow ($ 4,592).

Morocco’s Ahmed Marjan produced a sublime performance in the first two events in Morocco to open up a healthy lead over his nearest rivals in the Order of Merit for amateurs.

The first recipient of the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation scholarship, Marjan added another feather to his cap when he returned the best individual score (one-over par 289) at the recent Pan Arab Golf Championship in Cairo along with his team-mate Mustapha El Maouass.

The Moroccan duo will be up against strong contenders like England’s Max Williams, who won the Order of Merit title for amateurs last year, experienced Hamad Mubarak of Bahrain and Switzerland’s Michael Harradine in what promises to be an absorbing contest for points.

The second stage of the tour features seven back-to-back events on its schedule with stops in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar before the season-ending Tour Championship which will see top 40 professionals and 15 leading amateurs from their respective Orders of Merit contest for honours at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club in November.

A superb initiative by the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation, the Mena Golf Tour is supported by Omega and Mercedes-Benz. It is affiliated to the Arab Golf Federation and the R&A - golf's governing body and boasts a combined prize fund of $ 575,000, including $75,000 for the Tour Championship

Order of Merit standings after the first two events on the Mena Golf Tour:

1. Zane Scotland (England) US$14,000
2. Stephen Dodd (Wales) $12,206
3. Ian Keenan (England) $8,206
4. Younes El Hassani (Morocco) $6,798
5. Greg Snow (Kenya) $ 4,592
6. Duncan Stewart (Scotland) $3,639
7. Matthew Dearden (Wales) $ 3,048
8. Dale Marmion (England) $2,518
9. El Hali Abdelkade (Morocco) $ 2,516
10. Daniel Wardrop (England) $2,409.

Leading amateur:

Ahmed Marjan (Morocco)
 

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