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Photo courtesy European Golf Design
Dubai Hills is set to open just before the UAE PGA Tour visit in November.
By Kent Gray
A new event, a new joint venue for the season-ending tour championship and the guarantee of a new champion mark the release of the UAE PGA Tour’s 2018-19 schedule.
The 18-tournament season begins at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club next Monday and will wrap up with the traditional 36-hole (stroke play) UAE PGA Championship in April.
To coin a marketing phrase from the European Challenge Tour, you could call it the local ‘Road to Ras Al Khaimah’ with Tower Links and Al Hamra set to host the two-round finale on April 15-16.
With reigning champion Stefan Wears-Taylor and 2016-17 moneylist winner Cen Mills now back in their native South Africa and Wales respectively, there will be a new champion crowned at Al Hamra.
There will also be much interest in the inaugural Dubai Hills Pro-Am slated for November 26 which will incorporate a ‘set the course record’ challenge.
There is no official word as yet on whether the UAE PGA will again be granted a spot in the European Tour’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship after Al Ain pro Tom Buchanan’s dream week at Abu Dhabi Golf Club last January.
But a 36-hole event scheduled for Dec.10-11 at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, the only two-round event outside the Tour Championship, hints at it being a qualifier for the 2019 Desert Swing opener.
Photo: Masam Ali/Motivate Publishing
Tom Buchanan carded ropunds of 74-75 at last year’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship to finish seven shots shy of the cutline – and with memories of a lifetime.
As ever, the region’s leading teaching professionals will be chasing order-of-merit points to qualify for the UAE’s answer to the Ryder Cup, the Dubai Golf Trophy which has been set for April 27-28.
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The UAE Pros will be hoping to avoid a fourth successive loss to the Emirates Golf Federation’s leading amateurs in the 20th edition of the matchplay event.
UAE PGA Tour – 2018-19 Schedule
2018
Sept. 24: Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club
Oct. 8: Al Hamra Golf Club
Oct. 17: UAE PGA Dubai Creek Pro-Am
Oct. 28: The Track, Meydan Golf
Nov. 5: Arabian Ranches Golf Club
Nov. 26: Dubai Hills Pro-Am
Dec. 3: Trump International Golf Club, Dubai
Dec. 10-11: Saadiyat Beach Golf Club
Dec. 18: Emirates Golf Club
2019
Jan. 8: Jebel Ali Golf Resort
Jan. 22: Al Zorah Golf Club
Feb. 12: The Els Club, Dubai
Feb. 25: Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club
Mar. 4: The Montgomerie Pro-Am
Mar. 11: Abu Dhabi Golf Club
Mar. 25: Jumeirah Golf Estates (Earth)
Apr. 2: Yas Links Pro-Am
Apr. 15-16: UAE PGA CHAMPIONSHIP (15th at Tower Links/16th at Al Hamra)
Apr. 27-28: Dubai Trophy
