Smith, right, with AESGC’ tournament co-ordinator Shane Peacock.

By Kent Gray
Ryan Smith’s last round of competitive golf was at the Dubai Golf Trophy in May, not that he wants reminding.

The South African only made it as far as the 12th hole at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club before being forced to shake hands with Mike Mezei, a 7&6 loser in their singles match as the EGF Amateurs made it an unprecedented hat-trick of wins in the annual Ryder Cup style matches.

It wasn’t exactly how the UAE PGA team captain had envisaged his season ending and to be fair, it was a blip in an otherwise memorable campaign that saw the 37-year-old finish second in the regional circuit’s order of merit and win the UAE Matchplay title, the most significant win of his eight seasons in the region.

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Smith proved it was a blip by picking up at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club on Monday where he had left off at the matchplay final in late April, winning the first event of the 2018-19 UAE PGA Tour season.

The Address Montgomerie Dubai Tournament Co-ordinator carded a one-under 69 at Al Ain to edge Purna Sharma (Pro Sports) and Tom Henderson (Jumeirah Golf Estates) by two strokes.

As well as making up for the disappointment of the Dubai Trophy, it also avenged a playoff loss to Trump Dubai’s Mike Bolt at the corresponding event last season. Bolt, for the record, carded a 75 on Monday while Smith’s successor as Dubai Trophy captain, home club legend Tom Buchanan, could muster only a 76.

“I’m really happy to get the season underway with a win,” Smith said. “I felt a bit rusty early on as I haven’t played competitive golf all summer but I managed to play consistently and not get myself into too much trouble.

“I hit it great on the range which gave me confidence. I really like Al Ain and have always played pretty well there, lost to Mike Bolt in a playoff last season there so nice to win this time.

“The goals for the season? Most importantly make the Dubai Golf Trophy team and just try and play as many events I can. After finishing second in the order of merit I’m looking forward to another good season and hopefully going one better.”

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With reigning champion Stefan Wears-Taylor and 2016-17 moneylist winner Cen Mills now back in their native South Africa and Wales respectively, Smith has made a great start to that ambition.

Al Hamra Golf Club will host the second event of the UAE PGA season on October 8.