Dutch teen earns start in Commercial Bank Qatar Masters

Dutch teen Pierre Verlaar Jnr avenged a gut-wrenching playoff loss 12 months earlier by clinching a dream European Tour start with victory in the Qatar Open Amateur Championship on Saturday.

Velaar Jnr’s reward for three successive 70s and a three stroke victory is a return to Doha Golf Club for the January 26-29 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters where South African Branden Grace will chase a hat-trick of titles.

Qatar’s Saleh Ali Musbah Al Kaabi stormed home with a closing 67 on the Peter Harradine-designed Doha GC to finish second at -3, two shots ahead of reigning Emirates Golf Federation order of merit champion Christofer Rahm (Sweden).

It is understood Al Kaabi and Abdulrahman Al-Shahrani, who finished T24 on +14, also earned starts in the Qatar Masters by virtue of being the best placed Qatari players.

Velaar Jnr was beaten by Rayhan Thomas in a playoff for the Qatar amateur title in 2016 after the Dubai-based Indian birdied Doha GC’s 18th in the final hole of regulation before repeating the feat at the first time of asking in overtime.

Thomas, who created history when he become the first amateur to win a MENA Tour event, September’s Dubai Creek Open, finished in a four-way tie for 9th at +7 following a closing 79 on Saturday.

2017 Qatar Open Amateur Championship – Leading final scores
1. Pierre Verlaar Jr (Holland) 70 70 70 210 -6
2. Saleh Ali Musbah Al Kaabi (Qat) 71 75 67 213 -3
3. Christofer Rahm (Swe) 75 67 73 215 -1
4.Thomas Strandemo (USA) 74 71 72 217 +1
5. Sam Hobday (Eng) 72 77 71 220 +4
5. Markus Maukner (Aut) 68 73 79 220 +4
7. Mikkel Mathiesen (Den) 74 76 71 221 +5
7. Lguirati Ayoub (Mor) 76 73 72 221 +5
9. Tom Santa (Fra) 76 76 71 223 +7
9. Lucas Becht (Bel) 75 76 72 223 +7
9. Stan Kraai (Holland) 75 72 76 223 +7
9. Rayhan Thomas (Ind) 73 71 79 223 +7
Also:
24. Abdulrahman Al-Shahrani (Qat) 79 78 73 230 +14