Rayhan Thomas becomes first amateur winner on MENA Tour

Sport360 staff 05:23 08/09/2016
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  • Play-off winner: Rayhan Thomas.

    Rayhan Thomas swung himself into the history books by becoming the first amateur to win a MENA Golf Tour event Wednesday in dramatic fashion in Dubai.

    The 16-year-old Indian golfer claimed the Dubai Creek Open in a tense play-off against England’s Luke Joy, winning by one shot.

    Starting the day tied for the lead with another Englishman in Jake Shepherd on 10-under, Thomas closed with a 69 to reach 12-under for the tournament, forcing a playoff with Joy, who returned a brilliant five-under 66.

    Teenager Thomas bogeyed the first extra hole, the 18th, but Joy double bogeyed after hitting his approach from the bunker into the water, with the playoff drama providing a fitting climax to the tour’s landmark 50th event.

    “I am delighted with my efforts. Winning it in the 50th event of the tour and on my home course made it special,” said Thomas following victory.

    After finishing runner-up to Shepherd last year, Thomas insisted taking a relaxed attitude into the final round worked wonders.

    “I was pretty calm out there and focused on one shot at a time,” said the rising talent, who hails from the southern Indian state of Kerala. “The only anxious moment I had was at the 18th when my approach shot hit rocks, nearly ending up in the water, but I managed to save par to get into the playoff.

    “I played steady golf and holed some nice putts. It feels nice to get the job the done this time around.”

    Joy was certainly not full of happiness after the narrow loss. Third overnight, he staged a compelling fightback, but a wayward drive on the first extra hole that landed in a bunker cost him.

    “The lie was pretty bad. I had just five per cent chance of getting over the water. I couldn’t,” said Joy, winner of this event in 2014.

    Playing on a special invitation from Darren Clarke, patron of the MENA Golf Tour, Australia’s Benjamnin Eccles produced the highlight of the day, firing a sizzling eight-under 63 to match the course record, jointly held by Lee Westwood and Clarke himself.

    “I am very happy with my efforts. I birdied the first and then eagled the fourth and that kind of set the tone for the day,” said the 21-year-old from Melbourne, who nailed seven birdies, including four in a row from the seventh, and an eagle.

    Elsewhere, Faycal Serghini of Morocco finished on level par for the tournament to win the MENA Division for professionals, while Saudi Arabia’s Othman Almulla took the honours in the amateur division on four over 217.

    The MENA Golf Tour will stay in the Emirates for the Shaikh Maktoum Dubai Open, starting on Monday at Al Badia Golf Club.

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