Dubai: A total of 105 golfers including 22 amateurs have made it onto the starting line-up for the 10-stage Mena Golf Tour’s season-opening Royal Golf Dar Es Salam Open, which tees-off in the Moroccan capital of Rabat on Saturday.
Twenty-one nationalities will be represented in the field, which is oversubscribed for the second year in a row, with record numbers an indication of the four-year-old tour’s rapid growth.
Professional Order of Merit defending champion Joshua White headlines the field, along with 2013 champion Zane Scotland and 2011 winner Jake Shepherd.
All four previous amateur Order of Merit winners — in chronological order, Ahmad Marjane, Max Williams, Mustapha Al Maouas and James Allan — will also be present.
As well as a number of tour debutants, 13 Moroccan golfers will also be looking to use home advantage.
Those familiar with the conditions feel it will require patience and accuracy off the tee to tame the course, nestled deep in the heart of a 1,000-acre forest of cork trees. Measuring 6,702 metres from the championship tees, the course is both lengthy and strenuous and the layout is designed as one of the most difficult in the region.
Mohammad Juma Bu Amim, chairman of the Mena Golf Tour, said: “We’re obviously very pleased with the overwhelming response to the tournament, which is not only a great advertisement for the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, but also for the tour as a whole.
“We appreciate all the hard work the club does in preparing the course, which is always in great condition, and we can expect some exciting golf ahead.”
The Mena Golf Tour, he added, has attributes to become even stronger in years to come with the continued backing of clubs in the region.
