Rayhan Thomas comes close to win MENA Tour’s Dubai Creek Open

Joy Chakravarty 07:24 17/09/2015
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  • Commendable finish: Rayhan Thomas.

    It was his father’s birthday on Wednesday, and Rayhan Thomas gave him the perfect gift.

    The 15-year-old amateur, playing the MENA Tour’s Dubai Creek Open on his home course, came agonisingly close to winning the tournament against some of the more established names, but lost to Jake Shepherd in a play-off.

    Thomas, who started the day three shots behind Jake White, shot the joint best round of the day along with Shepherd, but had to be satisfied with a tied second place overall.

    – UAE: Shepherd prevails in Dubai Creek Open over Thomas
    – UAE: Thomas becomes youngest player to lead event

    – VIDEO: Pieters wins KLM Open for 2nd European Tour title

    In the amateur division, it was a runaway victory by 14 shots over Morocco’s Ayoub Lguirati.

    “It was great fun to be in contention,” said Thomas, who bettered his previous best score of 68 twice in three days of the tournament.

    “It was my father’s (John Thomas) birthday, and I really wanted to gift him a win. 

    “It was also on my home course, so there was a different thrill.

    “I am definitely disappointed to come so close and yet not win. But I am sure my dad won’t mind my coming second as a nice birthday gift.”

    Thomas was quickly off the blocks, making birdies on the first, third and fifth holes to be three-under par at that stage. But a bogey on the par-5 10th disrupted his momentum.

    “The bogey on the 10th was a bad mistake because that is a birdie hole. However, I am glad I bounced back with a birdie on the very next hole, before making another on the 18th.”

    Progress: Thomas.

    Thomas said he will take a lot of confidence from his best show on the MENA Tour when he tees up at Saadiyat Beach Classic next week.

    “This is big for me. I now know that I can compete with the professionals on the tour. I was hoping to get at least one overall top-five finish, and I am glad I have done that in the first event of the Gulf Swing itself,” he added.

    “I think what was most pleasing for me, apart from the fact that I played solid golf throughout, was the I made the right decisions at the right time. That is something me and my coach Justin Parsons have been working on a lot these last few months.

    “Hopefully, this will be the start of a good stretch for me.”

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