Lutton wins inaugural Golf Citizen Classic at Els Club

Sport360 staff 08:49 15/10/2015
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  • Clarke Lutton with his trophy.

    Clarke Lutton became a wire-to-wire winner of the inaugural Golf Citizen Classic, but not before Trevor Marshall tested him to the hilt on the final day on the MENA Golf Tour event at The Els Club Dubai on Wednesday.

    Leading by four shots at the beginning of the day, the 27-yearold Scotsman closed with a twounder 70 to reach 13-under for the tournament, but had to ward off the challenge of the Kiwi Marshall over the home stretch.

    Lutton’s playing partner, Stuart Archibald of England, carded a final-round 69 to finish solo third on 10-under, three shots ahead of his compatriot Zane Scotland, who was solo fourth.

    Slovakia’s young prodigy Jakub Hrinda provided a twist to the script in the amateur section, winning the division on fourunder par after Morocco’s overnight leader Ayoub Lguirati stumbled to a four-over par 76.

    Despite the searing afternoon heat, Lutton kept his cool when it mattered most to seal the deal, although a late bogey on the 17th made it interesting on the final hole.

    He became the second Scotsman after Paul Doherty, to win a MENA Tour event this season.

    “I am just ecstatic. Just can’t describe how I am feeling about my first win as a professional. It wasn’t easy. It was a big test of nerve indeed,” said the Aberdeen native after receiving the winner’s trophy from Mohamed Juma Buamaim, chairman of the MENA Golf Tour, in the presence of Mark Chapleski, senior vice president of Troon Golf, and Chris Brown, General Manager at the Els Club.

    “I think playing the tournament with an aggressive mindset did the trick for me. It was my short game in the final round that really kept me going as I made some good up-and-down pars.

    “The birdie on the 14th was crucial when I holed a long 12-foot putt which kind of steadied my nerves.”

    Marshall had his chances, but could not capitalise on par-5s, which he played at level par.

    “When you are chasing down a big four-shot lead, you need to do well on all the par-5s, but that didn’t happen. All credit to Clarke, who really played well and deserved to win,” said Marshall.

    Slovakia’s Hrinda attributed his victory in the amateur division to solid golf all week.

    “I didn’t make silly mistakes, which was the key,” said the 15-year-old, a 10th grade student at Doha College. “I would like to thank the college for all their support. Certainly, I would like to play more often on the tour and will do so once I am done with my studies,” he added.

    Morocco’s Mohammed Bellarousia won the MENA Division for professionals on three-over 219 while Saudi Arabia’s Khaled Attieh was the region’s best amateur. 

    The MENA Golf Tour travels to Oman next week for the Muscat Hills Golf Citizen Championship, starting on Monday.

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