Rising star Sana scores ‘perfect ten' victories

Dubai: Sana Tufail recorded her tenth consecutive win to top off her victory in the 11-event 2011/12 Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) Ladies' Order of Merit season in style — staking a claim for what is believed to be the region's first domestic league ‘perfect ten'.

Representing Yas Links, Abu Dhabi, the 15-year-old Briton from British School Al Khubairat, scored 72, 71 for a 143 to finish 12 shots ahead of her nearest rival in the season-ending Emirates Ladies' Amateur Open.

She tallied 324 points in the ladies' gross merit from October to April overall, well ahead of Kavita Sehmi and Anastasia Bakal, both of Emirates Club, who finished second and third on 229 and 184 respectively.

Sana, who made her Ladies European Tour debut in the 2011 Omega Dubai Ladies Masters on a sponsor's invitation last December, also reigned supreme in the net division, winning the title with 183.5 points, ahead of Bakal and Sehmi on 174 and 153.5 points respectively.

On day one, Sana shot a gross one under par 72 on the Faldo Course, before a superb second-day 71 on the Majlis for a resounding 143. Sana even got the better of a sandstorm to finish eight shots ahead in the opening round.

Opportunities

Sana converted some fine birdie opportunities on day two, as well as an eagle on the long par five 13, hitting the green with a 220-yard approach shot before holing a 40-foot putt.

Twice second in previous EGF Ladies' Order of Merit standings in 2011 and 2010, plus one-time net champion in 2009, Sana has also previously won two junior merit gongs. She now travels to England for her annual summer tour of six events in the hope of attracting the attentions of England scouts.

Sana said: "I still have a lot to learn, there were many lost opportunities out there, many birdie chances were not converted. I will be under much more pressure when playing in top amateur events in Europe this summer. But for now I am focusing on my GCSEs, which are in six weeks' time."