Marshall looks to keep momentum going after flying start

Sotogrande: Andrew Marshall will be looking to keep the momentum going at this week’s inaugural Sotogrande Masters — round three of the 19-stage Mena Golf Tour — after finishing tied for second and first in the opening two events of the season.

The 42-year-old Englishman tops the Order of Merit standings on $14,000 (Dh51,500) after events in Mohammedia and El Jadida, Morocco, ahead of fellow Englishman Zane Scotland ($9,759) who finished first and tied for 11th. Marshall now looks to continue this form in Spain, starting Monday.

Austria’s Florian Praegant meanwhile, will be looking to make up for his meltdown in the final round of last week’s event in El Jadida, after blowing a five-shot lead with eight holes to play.

Morocco’s Faycal Serghini leads the Mena Division for regional professionals after finishing 47th and fifth in the last two events ahead of his compatriot Younus El Hassani who has finished tenth and eleventh so far.

Elsewhere, Morocco’s Jamal Allawi leads the Amateur division with 52nd and 31st place finishes ahead of fellow countryman Yassine Touhami who has finished 50th and 35th so far.

The UAE-based Mena Golf Tour was created in 2011 with the aim of providing local golfers with a platform to professionalism. The new look 2016 season has 20 events — up from 11 last year — including last month’s Q-School, and will go to Morocco, Spain, Thailand, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and Egypt, as well as the UAE.