ABU DHABI // Luke Joy overturned a three-shot deficit with a final round 68 to win the Mena Golf Tour’s Abu Dhabi Open at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club today.
The 26-year-old Englishman, who picked up some early momentum with an eagle on the second, ended on 11 under par for the week, edging out compatriot and overnight leader Ross McGowan by one shot, with Zane Scotland, also of England, and Tyler Hogarty of South Africa sharing third a further shot back on nine under.
“Seriously, I never thought an 11-under would be good enough to seal the victory. I was ready for the play-off, but I am glad that it didn’t happen,” Joy said after receiving the winner’s trophy and a cheque for US$9,000 (Dh33,000).
Joy won the Dubai Creek Open two weeks ago and followed it with a second-place finish at last week’s Shaikh Maktoum Dubai Open.
England’s McGowan, who led by two shots going into the final round, had his chances of repeating his 2012 victory at this venue but ran out of luck when it mattered most.
“I don’t think I made too many mistakes out there. It’s just that I landed in the wrong spots at the wrong time, especially on the 13th that resulted in a bogey and then I three-putted the 15th. This is golf for you – anything can happen,” said McGowan, the former European Tour player who won the Madrid Masters in 2009.
A six-time winner on the Tour, Scotland took an early solo lead with three birdies in his first five holes, but three subsequent bogeys undermined his brilliant start.
Though he birdied the par-3 17th, the gain was a bit too late in the day.
“I think I played a lot more good shots today than I did in the previous two days, which was good. I can take, definitely, so much positives out of this tournament,” said Scotland, who will be defending his title at the Ras Al Khaimah Classic next week.
The English domination continued in the amateur division as well, with Elliott Oxlade sharing the top with Scotland’s Daniel Kay on three-over 219.
Morocco’s Younes El Hassani made it two in a row when he won the Mena Division on five-under 211.
* with Agency
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