PGA Order Of Merit: Gray Day

An astonishing back-nine birdie blitz enabled Dubai Creek and Yacht Club's David Gray to overturn a five-shot deficit and win the Fifth UAE Professional Golfers' Association Order of Merit Event at Arabian Ranches.

Early leader Jamie Wood (Emirates Golf Club) was two under par after birdieing the par-five 13th, while Gray had stood on the 14th tee at three-over par and his hopes receding.

The Scot then fired in birdie threes at the 14th and 15th. He rolled in for a four on the par five 16th and then secured a two on the short 17th.

Gray had a great chance to close out the 18th with another birdie, but his putt, for once, slipped past and he finished on one-under par 71.

Meanwhile Wood was double-bogeying the 14th and a further bogey – the only real blemishes on a fine card of 73 – soon followed to hand the title to Gray.

But the day had nearly begun disastrously for Gray after becoming snarled up in the infamous Arabian Ranches roundabout early morning rush-hour traffic and fearing that he might miss his 7.40am tee slot and be disqualified.

"It was queuing all the way back up Emirates Road and I had to dash straight to the tee and play," said Gray.

Despite the lack of warm-up, Gray's game got hotter as the round went on. "I didn't miss a green on the back nine," he said. "And I never ended up in the desert during the whole round."

Despite being overhauled, Wood was happy with the outcome. "I've not had the chance to play much lately," he said. "We had a pro leave Emirates recently and the rest of us have been picking up all his lessons. If you had offered me that round on the first tee I would have taken it.

"It was just a shame that I returned such a solid card without really holing a putt."

Tied for third place on two-over par 74 were Graeme Bell (Four Seasons Golf Resort) who followed up his victory on his home course with another consistent display and Stephen Hubner (Dubai Creek).

"The course was tough today," said Hubner. "It played quite long and there was some great scoring out there. A 71 for David with four birdies in the last five holes is fantastic."

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