Edouard Espana created a slice of MENA Tour history winning the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam Open and in his very first MENA Golf Tour appearance.

Espana commenced the final round two shots off the pace but closed with a bogey-free 69 for a six under par tally and denying overnight leader Ross McGowan by three shots and with Italy’s Alessandro Tadini and Germany’s Sebastian Heisele sharing third on a two-under 217.

The 24-year-old Bordeaux-born Espana grabbed three birdies on the front nine and one on the 11^th to set up his fourth career win since turning professional last year.

“I played really well, much better than I did in the last two days while my putting was spot on,” said Espana after receiving the winner’s trophy and a cheque for $9,000 from Mustapha Zine of the Royal Morocco Golf Federation. Mohamed Juma Buamaim, chairman of the MENA Golf Tour, and Abdulrehman Buftas, president of the Royal Golf of Dar Es Salam Club were also present.

Edouard Espana receiving the winner’s trophy from Mustapha Zine of the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation as Mohamed Juma Buamaim, Chairman of the MENA Golf Tour, and Abdulrehman Buftas, president of the Royal Golf of Dar Es Salam Club, look on. (Photo – www.MENATOUR.com)

“Ross also played well, but he found trouble on the 14^th and 15^th and ended up making bogeys there and that turned the match in my favour as I managed to par those holes,” said Espana, who thanked his coach Olivier Leglise for all his support.

The MENA Golf Tour, he said, has the potential to grow bigger in years to come. “There are lots of quality players who love to compete on the tour,” said the Frenchman.

England’s McGowan also felt he played well, but didn’t hole that many putts. “My tee-to-green was fine and I gave myself many chances, but just couldn’t manage to hole clutch putts. Also, I hit a couple of loose drives and that didn’t help the cause,” said the Englishman who closed with a 74.

“Edouard made two big birdies, one each on 7^th and 11^th, making very long putts and that, in end, made all the difference,” said McGowan, the winner of the MENA Golf Tour’s Abu Dhabi GOLF CITIZEN Open in 2012.

Elsewhere, Italy’s Tadini had his chances to catch up with the leaders, but dropped shots on the 13^th and 17^th to settle for a tied third. “I enjoyed playing my first tournament on the MENA Golf Tour. It was a great experience since the field was pretty strong,” said the former European Tour player.

“My putting was just unbelievable and, at one stage, I was four-under, but didn’t play all that well between the 13^th and 18^th hole,” he said.

Defending champion Zane Scotland and experienced Stephen Dodd of Wales took a share of the seventh on a two-over 221 while the English duo of Yasin Ali and James Housby were tied for fifth on a level-par 219.

England’s James Yeomans won the amateur division with rounds of 78, 74 and 72, reaching five over for the tournament, two shots ahead of Morocco’s Ayoub Lguirati.

Promising Lguirati, however, won the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation Award, which recognizes the top-three amateur and professional performances from the region.