Thomas makes massive gains in world ranking with MENA Tour exploits

Joy Chakravarty 08:25 25/05/2016
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  • Helping hand: Rayhan Thomas (l) is now supported by Mohamed Juma Buamaim (r).

    The 16-year-old Indian finished second in the Mountain Creek Open, and then backed up his performance with a third place finish at the MahaSamutr Masters. That earned him a total of three precious world ranking points, and the amateur now enjoys 1,050th ranking among professional golfers.

    The bonanza will be doubled for Thomas as the events also carry Amateur World Golf Ranking points, and he is expected to get close to No500, having travelled to Thailand as amateur world No1040.

    Thomas, who is supported by the Sheikh Maktoum Golf Foundation, had his chances to become the first amateur to win a MENA Golf Tour event, but fell just three shots shy of the title at Mountain Creek despite closing with a six-under 66 that matched his career-best score set at last year’s Dubai Creek Open where he narrowly lost in a playoff.

    He now has 133 points on top of the Order of Merit, 78 points ahead of England’s Benjamin David (55) with Scotland’s Ben Alexander third on 50 points.

    “My biggest takeaway from these two tournaments is an increased confidence in my ability to play golf at any level. I am improving with every tournament and that makes me feel proud,” said Thomas.

    “Playing alongside some of the top professionals on the (MENA) tour was a great experience. I know I can play well at this level.

    “The fact that my world rankings have gotten better is great. I will get entries into better events because of this. I am planning to go to the UK in the summer like I did last year and I am hoping to continue performing well there.”

    Meanwhile, Antonio Costa has broken into the top three on the professional’s Order of Merit following his convincing wire-to wire win in last week’s MahaSamutr Masters at Banyan Golf Club in Hua Hin.

    The 27-year-old Chilean, who took a six-shot lead into the final round, closed with a 68 to seal a three-shot victory, his first on the Tour moving him to tied 1,050th position alongside Thomas on the Official World Golf Ranking from 1,780.

    With $14,187 in earnings from the first six events, highlighted by two top-10s and a first, Costa sits behind the English duo of Zane Scotland ($25,734) and Andrew Marshall ($16,172).

    It was a unique Latin American double in the Thailand leg as Wolmer Murillo of Venezuela had earlier won the Mountain Creek Open.

    The 35-year-old closed with a tidy 69 to clinch his first win in Asia on five-under 211 as overnight leader Sixto Casabona Navarro of Spain faded out of contention.

    The MENA Golf Tour will travel to South Africa for the first time next month for a three-event series starting with the South to East Challenge to be held at Centurion, Pretoria, from June 7.

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