Dubai: Moroccan golfers will look to take home advantage in the opening round of the ten-stage 2015 Mena Golf Tour (MGT), which tees-off at the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam Open in Rabat on April 4.
With a string of top-10 finishes highlighted by Ahmad Marjane becoming the first Arab to win on tour, last year, Morocco have already underlined their status as the region’s best, but will now look to push on with more victories in 2015.
Well aware of the challenge that lies ahead, a strong home contingent comprising of 28 players, including 12 amateurs, have signed up for the event, feeling upbeat about their chances of starting the season with a home win.
Spearheading the challenge in the professional category will be the tested trio of Marjane, Faycal Serghini and Younus Al Hassani along with rising star Mahdi Sassi while Amine Al Malki and Karim Al Hali will be the players to watch in the amateur division.
A three-time runner-up on the MGT, Serghini is confident of shaking off the choker’s tag, if the rub of the green goes his way.
“I am getting close, very close. I think it is just a matter of time before my moment comes. The door will open sooner or later,” said Serghini, 39, who won the 2014 Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation award for being the Mena region’s best player.
“I have made some swing changes, which are working. More importantly, I have the self-belief in my game which is great,” he added.
Marjane, 23, will also be aiming to build on his maiden title he achieved at the 2014 Ras Al Khaimah Classic, making him the first Arab to win an MGT event.
“Obviously, playing in home conditions has its own advantage, but still you have to execute your shots and play as well as you can since the standard of golf is very high,” he said.
With Mustapha Al Maouas, Ahmad-Reda Rhazali, Mahdi Sassi and Amine Joudar among many potential winners in the fray along with Lebanon’s Peter Badawy, the region’s players, both professionals and amateurs, are more determined than ever to produce their own storybook finishes.
Mohammad Juma Bu Amim, chairman of the tour, lauded Royal Moroccan Golf Federation for their full support of the tour.
“The fact that so many golfers from Morocco, especially amateurs, have registered for this year’s Tour clearly reflects on their enthusiasm and commitment for the game,” he said. “I wish them the very best and hope they will do their country proud.
“For the overall development of golf, it is important we have significant participation from all countries in the region. The introduction of the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation Award is a step to intensify competition among the region’s talent.”
