Momentum the goal for Zane Scotland

Dubai: Zane Scotland is relishing the chance to defend his title and consolidate his order of merit lead when the Mena Golf Tour resumes after a six-month summer break on Monday with the Dubai Creek Open.

The 31-year-old Englishman won in Rabat and came second in Casablanca in the opening two events in Morocco in March, taking his money-list earnings to $14,000.

“I entered the first two events on the Mena Golf Tour with no expectations in terms of results since I was playing for the first time in a competition after the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in February,” said Scotland. “Obviously, I am delighted the way things turned out for me. The goal is to try and keep the early momentum rolling all the way through.”

Scotland will have his work cut out with the likes of Stephen Dodd and Ross McGowan, both European Tour winners, and Asian Tour veterans Ross Bain and Yasin Ali among other seasoned players joining a 118-strong playing field, which includes 31 amateurs.

Spearheading the Arab challenge will be Morocco’s Younus Al Hussain, who finished runner-up to Scotland in Rabat, and the UAE’s Ahmad Al Musharrakh, while a strong contingent from Bahrain, comprising of seven players, could spring a few surprises.

“There are a plenty of quality players on the tour and the script could well change when the second and final leg of the tour gets under way at Dubai Creek,” said Scotland.

Scotland showed great strength of character when he held off Dodd to win the Dubai Creek Open, the opening event on the 2012 Mena Golf Tour schedule.

“It feels fantastic coming back to a course where you have done well,” said Scotland, who is $1,794 ahead of Dodd, the defending Mena Tour Order of Merit champion. “It adds to the confidence, but it’s a new week and you’ve got to make sure you keep doing everything you need to do to continue with that success.”

England’s Keenan ($8,206) is third, ahead of Morocco’s Younes El Hassani ($6,798) and Kenya’s Greg Snow ($4,592).

Morocco’s Ahmad Marjan produced a strong performance in the first two events in Morocco to open up a healthy lead over his nearest rivals in the order of merit for amateurs. The first recipient of the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation scholarship, Marjan added another feather to his cap when he returned the best individual score (one-over par 289) at the recent Pan Arab Golf Championship in Cairo along with his teammate Mustafa Al Maouass.

The Moroccan duo will be up against strong contenders like England’s Max Williams, who won the amateurs’ title last year, experienced Hamad Mubarak of Bahrain and Switzerland’s Michael Harradine in what promises to be an absorbing contest for points.

The second stage of the tour features seven back-to-back events on its schedule with stops in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar before the season-ending Tour Championship, which will see top 40 professionals and 15 leading amateurs from their respective orders of merit contest for honours at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club in November.

Order of Merit standings after the first two events on the Mena Golf Tour:

1. Zane Scotland (England) $14,000

2. Stephen Dodd (Wales) $12,206

3. Ian Keenan (England) $8,206

4. Younes El Hassani (Morocco) $6,798

5. Greg Snow (Kenya) $ 4,592

6. Duncan Stewart (Scotland) $3,639

7. Matthew Dearden (Wales) $ 3,048

8. Dale Marmion (England) $2,518

9. El Hali Abdelkade (Morocco) $ 2,516

10. Daniel Wardrop (England) $2,409.