Orlando, FL …
Spain’s Leo Lilja produced a double dose of success in capturing the MENA Tour’s season-opening Palmeraie Country Club Casablanca Open, beating England’s Luke Joy in a marathon playoff on Thursday.
Playing in his first event on the tour after graduating from the Qualifying School last week, the Spaniard shot a bogey-free 68 to set a clubhouse target of eight-under which only Joy could match, reeling of three birdies coming home after offsetting an early bogey on the second to force extra holes.
There was a palpable sense of relief than ecstasy when Lilja birdied the par-5, 17th after hitting the greens in two shots to settle the issue on the sixth extra hole in the longest-ever playoff in the history of the MENA Tour.
“I am really very, very happy. Just can’t believe that I have won my very first event on the tour. It feels so surreal,” said the 24-year- old after receiving the winner’s trophy from Ali Ouaziz, director of operations at Palmeraie Country Club. Mohamed Juma Buamaim, chairman of the MENA Tour, Imad Bufarik, the club’s golf manager, and Majid Bennis of HLO, were also present.
Spain’s Leo Lilja wins at his first appearance on the MENA Tour. Sharing the victory podium was Ali Ouaziz, director of operations at Palmeraie Country Club. Mohamed Juma Buamaim, Chairman of the MENA Tour, Imad Bufarik, the club’s golf manager, and Majid Bennis of HLO.
“I played really solid during the week and holed many good putts out there which was the key,” said Lilja, who became the third Spaniard after Gabriel Canizares and Carlos Balmaseda to win on the MENA Tour.
England’s Joy, a two-time winner on the tour, gave his best but in the end it wasn’t good enough to get over the line as he had to settle for second, one shot ahead of his compatriot and overnight leader Lee Corfield, who closed with one-over 72.
The home crowd had plenty to cheer about when experienced Younes El Hassani finished a creditable fourth along with Scotland’s Jack McDonald after posting a final round 70.
On six-under- par 207, El Hassani comfortably won the MENA Division by two shots over his compatriot Faycal Serghini, who carded a final round 68, with Ahmed-Reda Rhazali and Mohamed Belaroussia finishing a distant third on three over.
Elsewhere, England’s Andrew Marshall, fondly known as Mr Nice Guy of golf, returned a 66 to finish in a tie for sixth on five-under along with fellow countrymen Stuart Archibald and William Harrold.
Netherland’s Pierre Junior Verlaar led from start to finish to win the amateur division on one under, a staggering seven shots ahead of England’s Todd Clements.
On a day when 31 players broke par, England’s Nicholas McCarthy, tied for 44th overnight, made the biggest move, shooting a seven-under 65 — the lowest score of the week — to finish a tie for ninth on four-under 209. Five birdies, an eagle and a bogey highlighted the sparkling efforts of a player who opened with an indifferent 76 on Tuesday.
The MENA Tour will travel Mohammedia, a port city on the west coast of Morocco between Casablanca and Rabat, for the Royal Golf Mohammedia Open at Royal Golf D’Anfa, starting on March 19.
