Dubai: The Moroccan duo of Ahmad Marjan and Younes Al Hassani will be aiming to close the gap on compatriot Faycal Serghini at the top of the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation Award Order of Merit when the Mena Golf Tour resumes with the Dubai Creek Open next week.
The new Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation Award recognises the top three Arab professionals and amateurs from their respective divisions in each Mena Tour event, creating a competition within the main series.
Marjan is in second place on the Order of Merit for Arab players thanks to creditable performances in the first two events on the 2014 Mena Tour schedule in Morocco, with Al Hassani occupying third.
Marjan shot a 2-under-par 214, highlighted by a closing round of 68, at the opening Royal D’Anfa Open in Mohammedia and followed it up with an 8-over 227 at the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam Open in Rabat.
The experienced Al Hassani will have his work cut out after posting a 6-over 225 and a 3-over 219 in the first two tournaments, but he is confident of catching Serghini, who has emerged as the runaway leader.
Serghini produced an impressive 11-under 205 at Mohammedia, missing out on the overall title by just one stroke, and followed it up with a 4-over 223 at Rabat after opening with a 69.
“We still have plenty to play for and, hopefully, I can sneak up on a few top places in the remaining events to recover lost ground,” said Al Hassani ahead of the Dubai Creek Open, which starts on September 15.
Great environment
“The beauty of this tour is that it has created a great competitive environment for players, especially from the region, to showcase their skills. The introduction of the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation award for the region is a bonus for all of us.”
Marjan, the winner of the Order of Merit for amateurs in 2011, said: “I have always expected a lot of myself, which motivates me to work hard. I feel my game is a lot more consistent and I’m really excited heading to Dubai.”
As part of the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation Award, each tournament has been allocated a separate prize fund of $3,000 (Dh11,019) for the top three Arab professionals. Also the prize fund for professionals will be raised to $5,000 for the season-ending Tour Championship.
