Vance’s dream run continues with Yas Links win

Joy Chakravarty 11:06 09/03/2014
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  • Champion: Vance with Chris White (l).

    Playing just his fifth Order of Merit event since coming to the UAE, Craig Vance of Tower Links won his third tournament when he held off the challenge of reigning UAE No1 Michael Harradine to win the Yas Links Men’s Open on Saturday. 

    The 32-year-old Vance, who came to the UAE four years ago but only started pursuing his passion with serious intent recently, shot rounds of 73 and 74 and parred the final hole to remain one ahead of Harradine (73).

    Zilhao Zu, who started the day tied with Vance at one-over par 73, stumbled to a 78 and was third.

    It was a head-to-head battle between Vance and Harradine, who shot a 75 in the opening round. But a birdie on the second, followed by a par on the par-3 fourth brought him level with Vance, who made a par and a bogey on the two holes.

    But Harradine made bogeys on the next two holes and the advantage was restored for Vance, only for the former to make birdies on the next two holes and pull even again.

    On the back nine, Harradine made bogeys on the 11th and 15th, and when Vance also dropped a shot on the 17th, the difference between the two players was just one shot with the par-5 18th to play, where anything could happen.

    But Harradine drove into the bunker and his chances of making a birdie and putting pressure on his rival was severely hampered. Both players then made pars for Vance to stay ahead.

    The Liverpool native, who won RAK Back Tee Challenge and the Meydan Open, paid tribute to his home club, Tower Links, and its general manager Simon Payne.

    “I came to Dubai four years ago, but there was so much to do, I could not play golf seriously. I then joined Tower Links and Simon has encouraged me immensely. The practice facilities are great there. I finally started playing this season,” said Vance, who works for Foss, a networking solutions company.

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