By Kent Gray
Daniel Gaunt might have come close to abandoning his pro golf dream 18 months ago but he clearly never lost the will to win down the stretch.

The 40-year-old Surrey-based Australian somehow conjured successive birdies to emerge from a dramatic three-way playoff with Englishman Benjamin David and South African MG Keyser to win the Troon Series-Al Zorah Open on Wednesday, including his title-clinching bomb on the second playoff hole:

Gaunt’s maiden MENA Tour victory came in just his second event back after he put his floundering career on ice in mid-2017 and his win in an Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) event since he captured the second of his two Challenge Tour victories at the Telenet Trophy in May 2013.

“I just don’t have the words to explain what I am feeling right now,” the father-of-four said after winning $13,500 by overcoming a difficult start to his final round at Al Zorah G.C. with two bogeys in his opening three holes to sign for a 73 and get into the playoff at -9 with David (69) Keyser (71).

Daniel Gaunt

“I have not played much the last 12-18 months and if you had said I’d win in my second proper event coming back, I would have snapped your hands off.

“The conditions were tough. The wind was brutal and the pins were tucked. I did not have my best stuff, but I am proud of the way I battled. And then to make two birdies when I needed to make them in the play-off, that was amazing.”

Gaunt gave up professional golf after getting frustrated with his poor form and the resulting financial strain on his family. He joined the maintenance team at his home club, the Burhill Golf Club in Walton-on-Thames, and did not play any tournament throughout 2018.

“It’s been a long couple of years. I have absolutely worked my backside off to get to this place. I am so happy, but I also want this to be the stepping stone to take me further.”

Keyser parred the first playoff hole (Al Zorah’ par-5 4th) to be eliminated. On the par-3 next, Guant guided a four-iron to 20 feet and made his putt as David parred to settle for a share of second place with Keyser.

India’s Dubai-based Rayhan Thomas (73) finished as the leading amateur at four-under par 212, which was good for tied ninth place overall. England’s Curtis Knipes (72), the amateur winner at Journey To Jordan-1, the inaugural event of the 2019 season, was next best at two-under par.

Thomas finished with a birdie but dropped shots on the par-3 15th and the 16th holes denied him a sub-par score and a place inside the top-five.

“The conditions were very tough, but my game was also mediocre,” said Thomas, the second highest ranked Asian player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking at No. 16.

“I am happy to be the leading amateur, but I obviously wanted to win the tournament. I know I could have contended for the title this week. It would have been nice to start the season with a win in your third tournament of the year.”

The MENA Tour move to Oman and the $75,000 Ghala Golf Club Open starting on Monday, Feb. 25.

Leading amateur Rayhan Thomas.

TROON SERIES- AL ZORAH OPEN – FINAL SCORES (par-72)
207 – *Daniel Gaunt (AUS) 68-66-73, MG Keyser (RSA) 70-66-71, Benjamin David (ENG) 69-69-69. *Gaunt won on the second playoff hole.
209 – Craig Ross (SCO) 68-66-75, Seve Benson (ENG) 69-68-72
210 – Robert Dinwiddie (ENG) 71-70-69, Max Smith (ENG) 68-71-71, Todd Clements (ENG) 71-65-74
212 – Rayhan Thomas (IND-Am) 69-70-73, Conor O’Neil (SCO) 72-70-70,
213 – Henric Sturehed (SWE) 73-71-69, Dominic Foos (GER) 69-71-73
214 – Curtis Knipes (ENG-Am) 72-70-72, Antoine Schwartz (FRA) 70-70-74, Tom Shadbolt (ENG) 70-69-75, Jack McDonald (SCO) 70-67-77
215 – Constantin Schwierz (GER) 71-71-73, Daniel Hendry (SCO) 71-70-74, Jack Doherty (SCO) 72-68-75, Lionel Weber (FRA) 68-71-76
216 – Jacob Oakley (ENG) 73-72-71, Joshua White (ENG) 72-68-76