Unfazed by the presence of a strong international field, Moroccan golfers will be looking to exploit home advantage and seize the early momentum when the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam Open, the opening event on the 2015 MENA Golf Tour schedule, gets under way in Rabat on April 4.

With a string of top-10 finishes highlighted by Ahmed Marjane’s breakthrough victory in 2014, they have already underlined their numero uno status in the Arab world, but would need to take their game up another notch if they aim to get in the habit of winning more frequently.

Well aware of the challenge that lies ahead, a strong home contingent comprising 28 players, including 12 amateurs, have signed up for the event, feeling upbeat about their chances of a producing a home winner this time around.

Mohamed Juma Buamaim, chairman of the MENA Golf Tour, with some of the leading Moroccan players.

Spearheading the challenge in the professional category will be the tested trio of Marjane, Faycal Serghini and Younes El Hassani along with rising star Mehdi Sassi while Amine El Malki and Karim El Hali will be the players to watch in the amateur division.

A three-time runner-up on the MENA Golf Tour, Serghini is confident of shaking off the choker tag, if the rub of the green goes his way.

“I am getting close, very close. I think it is just a matter of time before my time comes. The door will open sooner or later,” said Serghini, who won the 2014 Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation award for being the best player in the MENA region.

“I have made some swing changes, which are working. More importantly, I have the self-belief in my game which is great,” said the 39-year-old Moroccan who is also a golf in DUBAi ambassador.

If Serghini is searching for his first win on the tour, Marjane will be aiming to build on his maiden title he achieved at the 2014 Ras Al Khaimah Classic, making him the first Arab to claim a MENA Golf Tour event.

“Obviously, playing in home conditions has its own advantage, but still you have to execute your shots and play as well as you can since the standard of golf is very high,” said the 23-year-old from Rabat.

With Mustapha El Maouas, Ahmed-Reda Rhazali, Mehdi Sassi and Amine Joudar among many potential winners in the fray along with Lebanon’s Peter Badawy, the region’s players, both professionals and amateurs, are more determined than ever to produce their own storybook finishes.

Mohamed Juma Buamaim, chairman of the tour, lauded Royal Moroccan Golf Federation for their full support of the tour, saying: “The fact that so many golfers from Morocco, especially amateurs, have registered for this year’s Tour clearly reflects on their enthusiasm and commitment for the game. I wish them the very best and hope they will do their country proud.

“For the overall development of golf, it is important we have significant participation from all countries in the region. The introduction of the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation Award is a step to intensify competition among the region’s talent.”

Held under the auspices of the Shaikh Maktom Golf Foundation, the 10-stop tour boasts a combined prize fund of $525,000 in addition to offering attractive incentives to the MENA region nationals.