AL AIN // Having sewn up the Mena Tour's amateur Order of Merit title with a fine display in this season's final event, Max Williams is dreaming big.
The young Englishman signed off the six-week tournament by finishing as the top non-professional at the Tour Championship in Al Ain, carding a final round two-under-par 69 to come home tied-13th overall.
Williams, who travels to America in December to contest premier amateur events there, ended his campaign 22 points ahead of Michael Harradine, the Dubai-based amateur, whose 70 ensured a tied-23rd this week and secured second in the Order of Merit.
For Williams, though, elation was the overriding emotion as the victory awarded him not only some much-needed exposure to attract sponsors, but also a place at next year's Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
"To me, the Classic's the biggest of the three [Desert Swing events] so it's an awesome prize," said the 21 year old, who already has European Tour experience courtesy of three previous Qatar Masters appearances.
"You can't put a price on what you learn from the main tour events; it's an opportunity money can't buy. So it's perfect, really.
"Playing Qatar gave me confidence as it made me realise I wasn't as far away as I thought in terms of golfing ability. So I'll be able to play much better now in Dubai, go there with plans of finishing in the top 10."
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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