‘Wonderful’ Wolmer Murillo kept his nerve when it mattered most to climb to the top and capture the Mountain Creek Open by Golf Citizen on a rain-affected day here on Thursday,
Starting the day two shots off the pace, the Venezuelan closed with a tidy 69, winning his eighth professional title — and the first in Asia — on five-under 211 as overnight leader Sixto Casabona-navarro of Spain faded out of contention after a final round 78.
On a day when thunderstorms during the afternoon forced suspension of play for nearly 45 minutes, India’s Rayhan Thomas staged a stunning final day charge, firing a six-under 66 that propelled him to solo second on two-under — and on top of the amateur division for the second week in a row.
Thai-based Wolmer Murillo captures the MENA Tour’s Mountain Creek Open. (Photo – MENA Tour)
Thai amateur Witchayanon Chothirunrungrueng finished third a further shot back on one-under after closing with a 71.
“Winning is never easy and I am delighted that all my hard work has paid off,” said Murillo after receiving the winner’s trophy from Prayudh Mahagitsiri, Chairman of the PM Group and owner of Mountain Creek Golf Resort and Residences.
Pittiwatt Pattanan, Golf General Manager, Mohamed Juma Buamaim, Chairman of the MENA Golf Tour, and Stacey Walton of GLS Asia were also present.
Murillo made a confident start, making the turn at three-under and kept the momentum going all the way through, offsetting his only bogey of the day at the 11th with another birdie on the 14th.
Wolmer Murillo receiving the winner’s trophy from Prayudh Mahagitsiri, Chairman of the PM Group and owner of Mountain Creek Golf Resort and Residences, as Mohamed Juma Buamaim, Chairman of the MENA Golf Tour, Pittiwatt Pattanan, Golf General Manager, and Stacey Walton of GLS Asia look on. (Photo – MENA Tour)
“I am really grateful to the MENA Golf Tour for their invitation to play in this event. I have been really working hard with on game with John Wither (the PGA professional at Mountain Creek) and made a couple of swing changes. I think I have got to a point where I can aim and shoot well,” said the 35-year-old Venezuelan, who is attached to Banyan Golf Club in Hua Hin.
Spain’s Casabona-navarro said he blew his chances on the front nine he played in five-over. “I played somewhat better coming home, but the damage had already been done,” he added.
India’s Thomas, who racked up his second-place finish on the MENA Golf Tour for the second time, reeled off eight birdies, including five on the back nine, and two bogeys in his 66 that matched his career-best score set at the Dubai Creek Open last year.
“I hit a lot of good shots out there and putted really well. It was one of those days when everything clicked. Now I know I can shoot low, which a great confidence boost,” said Thomas, who is supported by the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation.
Elsewhere, England’s Luke Joy, a two-time winner on the tour, produced the shot of the day when he aced the par-3, eighth with an eight iron from 149 yards for the sixth hole-in-one of his career — and his third since he turned professional four years ago.
It was the second hole-in-one of the week following Kalle Nilsson’s ace at the par-3, 12th in the opening round on Tuesday.
The MENA Golf Tour travels to Hua Hin, a seaside resort on the Gulf of Thailand, next week for the MahaSamutr Masters to be held at Banyan Golf Club from May 17 to 19.
An initiative of the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation, the MENA Golf Tour was created in 2011 with the aim of developing golf in the region. It is affiliated to R&A, the worldwide golf governing body based in the home of golf, St Andrews, and the Arab Golf Federation and enjoys the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) status.
Multiple European Tour starts, including the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, the Hassan II Trophy and the Maybank Championship Malaysia in addition to full playing privileges on the Sunshine Tour and exemptions into the Final Stage of the Asian Tour Q-School for the leading three professionals are some of the added incentives for the MENA Golf Tour members.
