England-born Zane Scotland broke over-a-year-long title drought on the MENA Golf Tour with an emphatic three-shot victory at the Royal Golf Mohammedia Open by HLO on Friday.
Starting the final round in a four-way tie for the lead, Scotland held his nerve to close with a four-under 68 to reach 11-under for the tournament for his 10th victory on the tour — and his first since the Golf Citizen Masters in Al Ain on October 29, 2014.
His fellow Englishmen and overnight joint leaders Jamie Elson and Andrew Marshall settled for second, two shots ahead of a five-man group, which included South Africa’s Tyler Hogarty and Lee Corfield, a four-time winner on the tour.
“I really worked hard on my game during the winter and it has paid off which feels great,” said Scotland after receiving the winner’s trophy and a cheque for $9,000 from Mustapha Zein, president of the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation.
England-born Zane Scotland wins the first 2016 MENA Tour season event in Casablanca.
The governor of Mohammedia, Mohamed Juma Buamaim, chairman of the MENA Golf Tour, Fouad Akesbi, president of the Royal Golf Mohammedia, and Majid Bennis, director of HLO, were also present.
“I know this course well, having won here before. The thinking was to make as many birdies as possible which I tried to do,” said Scotland, the most prolific MENA Golf Tour winner, who mixed seven birdies, including four in a row from the ninth, with three bogeys to seal to the deal.
“I was really disappointed not to have any event last year despite posting some good finishes. Now that I have won, I would like to keep the momentum going during the season.”
Marshall felt he wasn’t quite on his game in the final round. “I knew it was going to take a good score to win, may be four or five under. I had my chances, but couldn’t exploit them. The conditions were difficult, but not overly difficult.
“Full credit to Zane, who really played well and deserved to win,” said Marshall, a former member of the Emirates Golf Club in Dubai, who finished in a tie for third at the inaugural MENA Golf Tour Qualifying School held recently.
Elsewhere, defending champion Paul Doherty of Scotland finished a tie for 30th on one-over along with the 2015 MENA Golf Tour Order of Merit champion,
Thriston Lawrence of South Africa, who carded a final round 70. Miles Tunnicliff, a two-time winner on the European Tour, and his fellow
Englishman James Allan, playing his competitive event as a professional, shared the 19th a further two shots adrift on one-under.
England’s Elliott Oxlade, also making his debut in the professional ranks, returned a final round 71 to finish tied 30th.
Morocco’s Younes El Hassani closed with a 73 to win the MENA Division for professionals on four-under while his compatriot Omar Arhazraf took the honours in the region’s amateur division on four-over 220, one ahead of Saudi Arabia’s Khaled Attieh.
The MENA Golf Tour travels to another Moroccan port city of El Jadida on the Atlantic coast next week for the inaugural El Jadida Championship by HLO, starting on Monday.
Royal Golf Mohammedia Open by HLO results:
Professionals:
Zane Scotland (England) – 11 under
Leading amateur:
Omar Arhazraf (Morocco) – 4-over
MENA Division:
Leading Professional:
Younes El Hassani (Morocco) – 4-under
Leading amateur:
Omar Arhazraf (Morocco) – 4-over
