Dubai: England’s Luke Joy has overtaken countryman Joshua White at the top of the Mena Golf Tour Order of Merit ahead of the Ascorp Golf Citizen Abu Dhabi Open to be held at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club from Monday.
Playing his first season on the tour, the 26-year-old from Bournemouth followed his victory at the Dubai Creek Open with a second-place finish at the Shaikh Maktoum Dubai Open on Wednesday, taking his earnings from the two events he has played so far to $15,000 (Dh55,082).
White, who has featured in the first four events on this season’s schedule, is placed second with $10,790, with France’s Edouard Espana and Cyril Suk of the Czech Republic sharing third on $9,000, thanks to their victories in the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam Open and the Shaikh Maktoum Dubai Open respectively.
England’s James Allan continues to lead the Order of Merit in the amateur division, accumulating 119 points from the first four tournaments, well ahead of compatriots Craig Vance (62) and James Yeomans (60).
In the Mena Division for the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation Award, which recognises the performance of the region’s top three professionals and amateurs from their respective divisions in each event, Moroccan players continue to call the shots.
Faycal Serghini remains at the top of the tree despite finishing second to Younes Al Hassani at the Shaikh Maktoum Dubai Open, while Ayoub Lguirati holds sway in the amateur division.
The top three professionals and the leading amateur from their respective Orders of Merit will receive special invitations to compete in the 2015 Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
