Photo: Joy Chakravarty/MENA Tour
MG Keyser, who won the Dubai Open at Dubai Hills G.C. in March, is eyeing the top of the Journey to Jordan standings. 

By Kent Gray
Jordanian amateur Shergo Al Kurdi has been given the honour of getting the MENA Tour’s Journey to Jordan back on track at his home Ayla Golf Club.

After the circuit’s six-month summer hiatus, Al Kurdi hit the opening shot in the Journey to Jordan 2 event in Aqaba earlier today.

The $100,000 tournament launches the MENA Tour’s five-event Autumn Swing which culminates with the Tour Championship, also at Ayla, from Nov. 24-28. In between time Yas Links, Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club and Tower Links will host the Abu Dhabi Open (Oct. 6-9), Al Ain Open (Oct. 19-23) and Ras Al Khaimah Open (Oct. 26-30) respectively.

With current Journey to Jordan Order-of-Merit (OOM) leader Matthew Baldwin focused on the European Challenge Tour as well as the Englishman’s nearest challenger, Frenchman Robin Roussel, this week’s event presents a big opportunity for MG Keyser.

The Dubai-based South African is third in the OOM, just $3350 adrift of Baldwin, so can assume pole-position with a top-five finish come Thursday’s final round. Fourth-placed Daniel Gaunt (Australia) and fifth-placed Nick Marsh (England) will also be hoping to take advantage of the absence of Baldwin and Roussel. There will also be interest in Luke Joy’s performance after the Yas Links-attached pro’s recent EuroPro Tour win.

Amateur OOM leader Curtis Knipes was due off at 8.20am in his opening round. His nearest challenger, Dubai-based England boys’ rep Josh Hill, was to set out 70 mins later while there will also be interest in the opening round performances of Hill’s pals Toby Bishop and Arjun Gupta.

 

Hill and Bishop recently celebrated international call-ups.