By Kent Gray
Englishman Jamie Elson has retained pole-position in the money race but compatriot Luke Joy looms large in his rear-view mirror heading into next week’s decisive MENA Tour Championship.

Elson had a 10,033 point lead over Joy heading into the penultimate event of the 15-tournament campaign but collected just $394 (and thus points) for a share of 34th place at the Sahara Kuwait Golf Championship, a paltry return for three days hard work.

Joy, meanwhile, banked 6000 greenbacks and as many points for his solo-second finish behind Scot Robert MacIntyre at Saraha Golf & Country Club in Kuwait City. It all means Joy is just 4427 points adrift of Elson heading to Ajman where the $100,000 purse doubles the amount of points normally available.

Victory at Al Zorah would give either Elson or Joy the money title, regardless of where the other finishes. Elson will also get the chequered flag with a top three finish providing Joy places no better than second.

Destiny is, therefore, in Elson’s hands but Joy, fresh from back-to-back runner-up finishes (he lost to Elson in a playoff for the inaugural AYLA Championship in Jordan) sniffs a chance.

“Even though I didn’t get the win [in Kuwait] it was great to be in contention again for the second consecutive week and put some more money on the OOM [order-of-merit] board going into next week’s Tour championship in Ajman,” Joy said. “I’m very happy with how the game is holding up and very much looking forward to getting stuck in next week and see if we can build on the past two weeks.”

Swede Fredrik From and Englishman Andrew Marshall are also still in the fight for the money title and the potentially career-altering opportunities including three European Tour starts, an invite to the PGA Tour’s Dean and Deluca Invitational, a Sunshine Tour card and a place in the final stage of Asian Tour Q-School.

But at 12,084 adrift points adrift, From would need to win at Al Zorah and hope Elson can place no better than 5th and Joy no better than 3rd. Marshall, 14,772 points back, would also need victory and for Joy to finish no better than 4th and Elson no better than 7th.

Here’s the permutations for the top 5 in the order-of-merit race leading into the 72-hole Tour Championship starting Monday:

1. Jamie Elson (England) – Current points: 32,847

– Will win overall title with victory at the Tour Championship
– Wins title with a top three providing Joy finishes no better than 2nd
– If Joy finishes outside the top five, Elson wins title regardless of his finishing position

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2. Luke Joy (England) – Current points 28,420

– Will win overall title with victory at the Tour Championship
– If Joy finishes second, Elson would need to finish no better than 4th
– A third place finish for Joy would mean Elson would have to finish no better than 6th
– If Elson finishes outside top 10, Joy would still need a top three placing to be crowned MENA Tour champion.

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3. MG Keyser (South Africa) – Current points 18,774

– Despite winning back-to-back titles, is not eligible for Tour championship as has only played three events this year. Only the leading 50 professionals and top 10 amateurs who have played at least seven events are eligible.

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4. Fredrik From (Sweden) – Current points 22, 763

Fredrik Form

– To win title would need victory and Elson to finish no better than 6th and Joy no better than 3rd.

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5. Andrew Marshall (England) – Current points 18, 075

– To win title would need victory and Elson to finish no better than 7th and Joy no better than 4th.

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And here’s what’s on the line after the final calculations are done at Al Zorah:

1st
Invites to:
Dean & Deluca Invitational (PGA Tour)
Omega Dubai Desert Classic, Maybank Championship, Hassan II Trophee (European Tour)
Full 2018 card for Sunshine Tour*
Full 2018 card for Asian Development Tour
Asian Tour – Final stage of Q-School

2nd
Invites to:
Omega Dubai Desert Classic, KLM Open (European Tour)
Full 2018 card for Sunshine Tour*
Full 2018 card for Asian Development Tour
Asian Tour – Final stage of Q-School

3rd
Omega Dubai Desert Classic (European Tour)
Full 2018 card for Sunshine Tour*
Full 2018 card for Asian Development Tour
Asian Tour – Final stage of Q-School

4th and 5th
Full 2018 card for Sunshine Tour*

6th to 15th
Sunshine Tour – Final stage of Q-School

Top MENA National
Invite to:
Omega Dubai Desert Classic

Top 60
Mena Tour exemption for 2018

*Pre-qualifying required for Sunshine Tour/European Tour co-sanctioned tournaments.