By Kent Gray
The touring life stands still for no man, not even newly crowned champions as much as Nick Marsh probably wishes he could put his entire professional career on repeat at Ghala Golf Club in Oman.

At least the 24-year-old Englishman will roll into Dubai Hills Golf Club for the start of the Pro-Am circuit’s fourth and newest stop next Tuesday as the circuit’s third successive first-time champion. A closing 65 saw Marsh hold off fast-finishing Frenchman Robin Roussel to claim the $75,000 Ghala Golf Club by two strokes on Wednesday although Roussel made him sweat on just his second pro title with a course record 63.

But Marsh’s love-affair with Ghala’s back nine came to the fore again as he played his final five holes in five under par, including this critical equal on the par-5 16th:

Marsh banked $13,500 for his first victory since winning the Dawson and Sanderson Classic on the EuroPro Tour in 2017 and also a start in the Challenge Tour’s Andalucia – Costa del Sol Match Play in May.

“It was fantastic. I just went there with a good mindset and a good game plan and stuck to it,” said Marsh who finished -18 (198) for the 54-hole championship. Interestingly, he was 14-under on the back nine.

“I had no idea what Robin was doing in front of us. I just thought that I needed to stay ahead of Max and Gaunty (playing partners), who were playing very good golf as well.

“I just love this golf course. I need to wrap it up and take it with me everywhere. I think I have some kind of a love affair with it, because I have no idea why I did so well this week on the back nine.

Challenge Tour-bound Roussel has shot two prior rounds of nine-under par, and incredibly, both came in the final rounds – in the first and second stage of the 2017 European Tour Q-School.

“That was a good round, but I am a touch disappointed now. I was coming from too far behind I think and Nick obviously played a very good round of golf,” said the 25-year-old who resides on the outskirts of Paris.

“I played very well the last two days, but today, I was even better with my scoring irons – from my 8-iron to the wedges. I hit it very close and was mostly inside the five-to-15 feet range.

“Of course, I am happy with the way I have started the season. Our Challenge Tour schedule starts late in April, so the MENA Tour is a great place for me to come out and play competitively against some quality players on quality golf courses.”

Scot Craig Ross added a 66 to his second round 65 to join England’s Max Smith (68) in tied third place at 13-under par, while Australian Daniel Gaunt, winner last week at Al Zorah in Ajman, was fifth at 204 despite a 69.

Meanwhile, a Dubai-based 14-year-old Josh Hill (71) shared amateur honours with amateur order of merit leader England’s Curtis Knipes (70). The duo finished on seven-under-par 209 for a share of ninth place.

It was a particular milestone for Hill who has targeted at least three top-10 finishes in his rookie season.

“I just had a good feeling the moment I saw this golf course. The fairways are tight and it is a very tactical course,” said Hill.

“It was a good comeback today. I was struggling on the front nine and I was lucky to be just one-over at the turn. I made a couple of good up-and-downs to limit the damage. A birdie on the 10th settled me down and I was solid coming down in tough, windy conditions.”