Arab golf is very much on an upward trend at the moment, in both the male and female games, especially after Moroccan amateur Adam Bresnu made history by becoming the first Arab-born golfer to make the cut in a Rolex Series DP World Tour event.

Over in Morocco, at the opening event of the season on the Ladies European Tour, it was a day to remember for the Arab contingent playing on home soil, as all five of the Moroccan players are in the top 50 after the first round in Morocco.

With a field consisting of 34 nationalities worldwide, it includes five Moroccans playing on home soil: Ines Laklalech, who carried her nation’s flag at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Maha Haddioui, Lina Belmati, Malak Bouraeda, and 15-year-old Sofia Cherif Essakali, who is the youngest player in the field.

Arab Leaderboard after Round 1:
T14 Laklalech I (-2)
T24 Bouraeda M (-1)
T39 Belmati L (Par)
T39 Essakali S (Par)
T50 Haddioui M (+1)

“Golf in Morocco is trending in the right direction,” said Laklalech, who is tied for 14th after a two-under-par opening round. “We’re seeing more and more female golfers. I think the Federation is doing a great job in also growing the game, and we have an amazing facility here to practise.

“We’re very lucky, and hopefully, it keeps getting better and better.”

Even three-time Major champion, Padraig Harrington was singing the praises of Sofia Cherif Essakali earlier in the week.

The tournament is back for its 28th edition at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam (Blue Course), and once again sees the field competing for a €450,000 prize fund.

Leading at the top of the leaderboard after Thursday’s opening round is Brianna Navarrosa. The American got off to a dream start in her rookie season with a round of 67 (-6) to lead after day one of the Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco.

She began her round with a birdie blitz of five back-to-back at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, with a further birdie on the 9th hole. An eagle on the 15th made it a solid start for her 2025 campaign.