Crail, Scotland … England’s Zane Scotland created MENA Tour history in eagling the first extra hole to win the Ras Al Khaimah Classic in a three-way play-off at Tower Links Golf Club on Wednesday.
The 33-year-old from London stiffed his approach shot to within 15 feet and holed the ensuing putt at the par-5, 18th to seal his 11th title on the MENA Golf Tour after finishing tied with overnight leader Craig Hinton and Miles Tunnicliff at 10-under par in regulation play.
It will ensure Scotland earns the highest World Ranking points in this first MENA Tour event to be officially sanctioned by the Official World Golf Rankings.
“Obviously, I am delight to win another title on the tour — and winning it in a playoff under pressure makes it even special,” said Scotland after receiving the winner’s cheque for $9,000 from Simon Payne of Tower Links Golf Club and Rodney Bogg of the MENA Golf Tour.
“It was one of those days when I just couldn’t build any momentum because I wasn’t making any putts. It was kind of very boring golf. I knew I had to stay patient and focused on every shot which I tried to do,” said Scotland, who carded a final round 70.
Zane Scotland wins 2016 Ras Al Khaimah Classic. (Photo – www.MENAtour.com)
Starting the day one shot in front, Hinton also felt he just failed to summon his A Game when it mattered the most. “Basically, nothing went in and nothing went my way, just scrambled to hold it together,” said the 27-year-old from Thame.
“It’s my fourth runner-up finish on the MENA Golf Tour and this one, in particular, will haunt me as I led from the start to the playoff,” said Hinton, who joined the tour in 2013.
“There is always hope for tomorrow. Hopefully, I will be able to get over the line in some other event on the tour this season. Let’s see how things pan out.”
Tunnicliff, a two-time winner on the European Tour, hit what he called a perfect shot from the bunker on the first extra hole, but it took a hard bounce and landed in the lake.
“May be, I was a bit unlucky. But, I am very pleased the way I played this week. This is my best finish on the tour, which is good,” added the 47-year-old Englishman, who shot a final round 68 to get into the play-off.
The English duo of Daniel Owen and Stuart Archibald shared fourth on nine under, one shot ahead of Spain’s Carlos Balmaseda, who is also a MENA Golf Tour ambassador.
Stephen Dodd, a three-time winner on the European Tour and the 2012 MENA Golf Tour Order of Merit champion, returned a final-round 69 to finish seventh on seven-under as his playing partner Andrew Marshall of England, also a European Tour veteran, settled for a share of 10th after carding a 71.
England’s Joe Heraty made the biggest final day charge, firing a bogey-free 66 – the best score of the week – to climb to joint eighth on six under along with fellow Englishman Luke Joy.
Young Rayhan Thomas closed with a level-par 72 to win the amateur division with a creditable score of three-under 213, three clear of Scotland’s Ben Alexander, who returned a brilliant four-under 68 in the final round, as Saudi Arabia’s Othman Almulla settled for third a further shot back.
Rayhan, who opened with a 69 on Monday, reeled off three birdies in his final four holes in a compelling fight-back, for his fifth victory in the division since joining the tour in 2013.
The MENA Golf Tour travels to Thailand for the first time next week for the Mountain Creek Open by Golf Citizen to be held at Mountain Creek Golf Resort & Residences, Amphur Sikhio, Nakhon Ratchasima, from May 10 to 12.
