Ras Al Khaimah: The Mena Golf Tour is on the verge of a new dawn with the launch of the inaugural Qualifying School, offering a simplified road map for earning playing status on the Tour in 2016.
Open to all professionals and amateurs — with a handicap of one or better — the 54-hole Q-School will be held at Almenara Golf Club in the Spanish resort Sotogrande in the Cadiz province in two stages in February next year.
The first stage, on February 14-16, will see players compete over 36 holes of stroke play when the half-way cut will be made, winnowing down the field for a final stage 18-hole competition to be held the following day.
The introduction of the Q-School, conforming to the guidelines set forth by the game’s apex body, will pave the way for the Mena Golf Tour to become eligible for Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) status. Entries, including that of amateurs, will no longer be based on date and time, but rather by one’s ranking based on performance in the Q-School. The official entry form will be made available on the tour’s website.
The launch of the Q-School is part of an ambitious plan to expand the schedule of the Mena Golf Tour to close to 20 events, covering new destinations like Kuwait, Egypt, Spain, South Africa and Thailand in 2016.
Calling it an exciting development, Darren Clarke, Patron, Mena Golf Tour and 2016 European Ryder Cup Captain, said: “I look forward to welcoming all players and hope to see some new blood hit the front.
“There has been a lot of fresh talent coming up through the ranks over the last few years, but the opportunities are very limited for young professional golfers to develop and showcase their skills on a global basis.”
Mohammad Juma Bu Amim, chairman of the Mena Golf Tour, commented: “We believe the Q-School will enhance the level of competition in addition to bringing more transparency in determining the fields for our events.
“I am confident that the Mena Golf Tour will soon be eligible for officials golf ranking status which will provide a fresh energy boost to the growth of golf in the region,” he added.
