Dubai: MG Keyser is hoping to buck the trend of first-time winners in this season’s Mena Golf Tour in the Golf Citizen Classic at the Els Club this week from Monday to Wednesday.
So far all 10 events of this year’s 15-stage season have been won by a new champion, including himself at last week’s Dubai Creek Open, where the 30-year-old South African special invite broke the course record of 10-under 61 to finish two clear of defending champion Rayhan Thomas.
Now he fancies his chances of back-to-back triumphs after recently hitting 62 at the Els during a round with friends.
“The confidence is there as I have been playing some good, solid golf for the last six months or so,” he said.
“I love this Els course and know what it takes to string together a low round. Hopefully, local knowledge will come in handy,”
“I am really enjoying playing on the Mena Tour. There are a plenty of quality players who all can win on their day,” he added.
Thomas also shot a 61 in the Dubai Creek Open to quickly equal Keyser’s new record last week, as well as equalling the world record for most consecutive birdies with nine. However, the Dubai-born Indian amateur, will miss this week’s event as he heads to the United States to compete in the Junior President’s Cup in New Jersey from September 25-26.
Zane Scotland, a record 10-time winner on the tour, will threaten Keyser at the Els however, along with fellow Englishmen Craig Hinton, Andrew Marshall, Jake Shepherd and Lee Corfield, who have all won at least twice on tour.
Scotland declared himself fit after being forced to pull out last week with a back injury. He will now be ready to challenge for his first Mena title since last year’s Royal Golf Mohammedia Open in Morocco.
Sweden’s Fredrik From took the Order of Merit lead with a fourth-place finish last week and will now look to pull ahead as the season reaches its climax.
Meanwhile, Todd Clements leads the amateur division after finishing tied for second last week and Saudi Arabia’s Othman Al Mulla is in control of the Arab division. In total there are 130 entries for the Golf Citizen Open, including 30 amateurs from 26 countries.
