ByGolfDigestME.com
Morocco’s first ever Tour-level golf champion Ines Laklalech believes this week’s International Series event in Rabat will be the launchpad for the country’s next generation of golf stars.
No less than 10 of Morocco’s finest professional and amateur golfers have earned the chance to tee it up against some of the biggest names in world golf at the Asian Tour’s flagship $1.5 million International Series Morocco tournament, which tees off on Thursday at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam.
Professionals Ayoub Lguirati, Yassine Touhami, Othmane Raouzi, Ayoub Id-Omar, Ahmed Marjan and Karim El Hali carry Morocco’s greatest chance of a strong performance at the four-day event, with highly rated amateurs El Mehdi Fakori, Hugo Mazen Trommetter, Mohammed Nizar Bourehim and Adam Bresnu also looking to make an impression.
All 10 players will be able to source inspiration from 25-year-old countrywoman Laklalech, who earlier this year became Morocco’s first ever golfer to win a professional title, with victory in September’s Lacoste Ladies Open De France on the Ladies European Tour.
MORE: Laklalech ready to make more history in Jeddah
Laklalech firmly believes the talent is there amongst Morocco’s rising male stars — and is hoping that this week’s event will act as a springboard for Moroccan golf looking forward.
She said: “I’ve been following the guys’ results for the last couple of years and when there’s a national event, I’m always watching. It would be amazing if a Moroccan player can win this tournament — and I’m sure they can, because we have incredible talents here in Morocco.
“They’re working hard and they have really nice courses here. I just think they’re maybe lacking a bit of experience, and that’s all they’re missing. If they just keep playing, they will have some great results in the future, that’s for sure. And if not in this tournament, then it will come. I’m very optimistic for the future of Moroccan golf.”
The debut International Series Morocco will play a key role in determining the Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, as well as the maiden International Series money list winner.
The field is packed with big-name stars, with eight of the top-10 in the Asian Tour Order of Merit standings, plus all four International Series winners to date — American Sihwan Kim (Thailand), Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent (England), Thai Ntithorn Thippong (Singapore) and Korean Taehoon Ok (Korea) — all playing.
They will go head-to-head with the likes of Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat, former Singapore Open champion Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, and Australian Brett Rumford, a two-time Asian Tour winner, while James Piot, Chase Koepka, Wade Ormsby, Turk Pettit and David Puig are some of the big-name LIV Golf stars competing.
Laklalech is delighted to see this level of competition return to her home country.
She said: “When I got the news the International Series was coming to Morocco, I was very happy because the DP World Tour event has been set aside for a few years, and this would mean a big tournament coming to Morocco again, which is great.
“We have a lot of great players and I’m really happy for them, being able to play in an event like this. It’s also going to allow the young kids from all over Morocco to come and watch the guys play up close, and that will be a great inspiration for so many of them. That’s how it worked for me: I got inspired when I was watching the Lalla Meryem Cup in Rabat, so now having an Asian Tour event in Morocco is for sure going to grow Moroccan golf.”
Asked about the challenge the players can expect to encounter on Royal Golf Dar Es Salam’s Rouge course, Laklalech said: “It is a very, very nice course, but very tricky. I think the biggest challenge for the guys this weekend is going to be getting the right tee shot, because it’s pretty narrow with a few obstacles, and when you get the ball in the rough, it’s tough to get near to the hole.
“The greens are also pretty firm and fast, so I think the main thing would be to just put your ball on the fairway to have a good chance and create your opportunities.”
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