Dubai: Luke Joy parred the second play-off hole with little fuss to defeat Trevor Marshall and win the Mena Golf Tour’s Dubai Creek Open on Wednesday.
Playing in his very first Mena Golf Tour event, the Englishman finished regulation play tied with New Zealand’s Marshall on a five-under 209 after both players closed with matching 68s to extend play.
The duo settled for par on the first extra hole, the 18th, but the drama unfolded on the second when Marshall, a regular on the Mena Golf Tour, found water with his approach after the missing the fairway on the right and ended up with a double bogey.
Joy, who hit the green in two as he did on the first extra hole, holed his par putt with a cool head to make his debut on the Mena Golf Tour a memorable affair. “It feels just fantastic to win your first tournament in your first appearance in the Middle East. I hope it’s just the start and more success will follow soon,” said Joy after receiving the winner’s trophy from Mohammad Juma Bu Amim, chairman of the Mena Golf Tour, in the presence of Mustafa Al Hashimi, CEO of Wasl Hospitality and Leisure, and Paula Savage, lady captain of Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club.
“It’s not that easy to score on this course, but it’s a tribute to the competitive spirit of the field that we had some very good performances. There are many good professionals and amateurs playing on the tour, which is great for golf in the region,” said the 26-year-old Englishman, who also received a winner’s cheque of $9,000 (Dh33,049).
“I hope players like me will keep inspiring amateurs and, hopefully, they soon will be a force to reckon with,” said Joy, who turned professional in 2012.
Overnight leader Craig Vance of England and second-placed Shafiq Masih of Pakistan, along with Scotland’s Tom Buchanan, had their chances to make the playoff but couldn’t hold their nerve as they all landed in water on the 18th to fade out of contention.
Buchanan, who represents Al Ain Shooting, Equestrian and Golf Club, settled for solo third after closing with a 69 while Vance and Masih shared the fourth on a three-under 201 after final rounds of 74 and 73, respectively.
An initiative of the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation, the Mena Golf Tour travels to Al Badia Golf Club next week where England’s Zane Scotland, who is also a Golf in Dubai ambassador, will be defending his title.
