England’s Chris Wood will happy to learn he continues to lead the MENA Tour money-list race after his disappointing opening round at the CB Qatar Masters on the DP World Tour.
Instead of teeing-up in Cairo, Wood was again afforded an invitation to contest the Qatar Masters on the back of his maiden DP World Tour win in the 2013 event in Doha.
However, a struggling opening round 77 was not what the recent two-time winning MENA Tour champion was expecting.
In Wood’s absence in Egypt it was Spaniard Juan Salama leading from start-to-finish a wire-to-wire victory at the Egypt Golf Series Madinaty, capping a brilliant week with a five-under 65 to finish at 17 under par and claim his maiden MENA Golf Tour title.
Spaniard Juan Salama leading from start-to-finish a wire-to-wire victory at the Egypt Golf Series Madinaty at the Madinaty GC. Image Getty
Salama, who set the tone with a course record 60 on day one, never relinquished his grip on the tournament and finished three shots clear of last week’s winner Jack Davidson and overnight co-leader Owen Edwards, who share second at 14 under.
Salama picked up four birdies on the front nine to extend his overnight advantage before his only dropped shot of the day at the 15th briefly let his pursuers dream. But the Spaniard held his nerve, navigating the water at 16 before a birdie at 17 restored his cushion heading to the last.
“Shooting 60 was my personal best round, so to open the tournament like that really set everything up,” said Salama. “I had a local caddie this week who read the greens really well, and it’s been a great start to the year.
“Today I felt solid, but I was definitely nervous. I was just trying to stay in the present on every shot, stick to my routine and take care of each moment. I felt really nervous on the 15th tee, and then again on my second shot at 16 because all I could see was the water, so that was a tough moment.
“Coming down the last hole with a three-shot lead, I decided to lay up because the driver could have been too much, and I’ve been hitting my five-wood really solid this week. I hit it really good, and even though the second shot wasn’t my best, it was enough today.”
For Salama, the victory represents redemption after losing to Davidson in a play-off at Address Marassi just seven days earlier.
“This win means a lot to me. It’s my first international win and it’s very important for me to keep chasing my dream and keep fighting. I’m also really grateful to the MENA Golf Tour for giving us the opportunity to play on such nice golf courses in great places. They’re doing a really good job. Now it’s on to Morocco.”
The conclusion of the Egypt Golf Series Madinaty marks the end of the MENA Golf Tour’s successful four-event Egypt swing, with $400,000 in prize money distributed across four world-class venues. The Tour now heads to Morocco later this month before continuing to Jordan and the GCC.
Salama collected $18,000 from the $100,000 prize fund to move into second on the MENA money-list along with Official World Golf Ranking points.
For more information please visit: www.menagolftour.com
