Christofer Blomstrand’s sensational debut in the MENA Golf Tour ended with a podium finish on Wednesday as he won the inaugural Muscat Hills Golf Citizen Championship.
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Leading by two shots overnight, the 23-year-old Swede had the luxury of bogeying the final hole and still winning the tournament by one shot on 11-under par after his nearest challenger, Germany’s Julian Kunzenbacher, agonisingly missed a 16-footer for birdie.
Spain’s Xavier Puig fired a course record 66 to finish third on eight-under, one ahead of Morocco’s Younes El Hassani, Ryan Smith of Australia and Per Barth of Sweden.
With his game on cruise control, Blomstrand never relinquished his overnight lead and made putts when he needed to make to complete a brilliant win, his second since turning professional three years ago.
“It feels just incredible to win here. I had a great week. Every part of my game fell into place, which was good,” said Blomstrand after receiving the winner’s trophy from Mohamed Juma Buamaim, chairman of the MENA Golf Tour, and Ray Stopforth, director of golf at Muscat Hills and Country Club.
“I never really felt threatened and played my own game. I could smell the victory when I birdied the 16th. Standing on the 18th, I had a two-shot lead. Though I three-putted, it was still good enough to get the job done,” said the Swede, who shot a final-round 70.
Germany’s Kunzenbacher went for broke in the last few holes. The aggressive approach worked well on the 16th where he picked up a shot, but missed his birdie bid at the last which would have forced a play-off.
Morocco’s El Hassani closed with a 71 to win the MENA Division on seven-under, four clear of second-placed Amine Joudar as Amine El Malki, also of Morocco, carded a 69 to join his compatriot Ayoub Lguirati and India’s Rayhan Thomas in a three-way tie for the leading amateur award on one-under.
