A cool-headed Andrew Marshall dug deep into his vast reservoir of experience to win the inaugural El Jadida Championship by HLO.
The 42-year-old Englishman closed with a level-par 72 to reach five-under for the tournament, beating overnight leader Florian Praegant of Austria by a good two shots for his third career win – and the first on the MENA Golf Tour he joined only this season after graduating from the qualifying school.
Two shots behind going into the final round, Marshall and Praegant were engaged in a nip-and-tuck battle, but the former European Tour star came through with two birdies in his last three holes.
Praegant, who boasts a second on the MENA Golf Tour, had his chances to close the deal, but he stumbled coming home, dropping five shots between 13 and 17 holes, including a double-bogey on the 16th, and that made all the difference.
“I’m really happy and ecstatic to win my first event on the MENA Golf Tour. Morocco has been very good to me,” said Marshall after receiving the winner’s trophy and a cheque for $9,000.
“Overall, I played okay, but never expected to win as I was two behind at the start of the day, but on the 16th Florian made a double-bogey and I hit close to the pin for a birdie and that three-shot swing swung the match in my favour,” added the Englishman, who finished in a tie for 48th at the 2006 Open Championship.
“For me, I am not starting my career, but for the young guys the MENA Golf Tour is a great breeding ground with so many events on their schedule.”
