Journey to Jordan leader MG Keyser having a bit of fun during Sunday’s practice round at AAESG as he unleashes a drive on the long 678-yard par-5 10th hole.

By Kent Gray
The lowest single-round score in MENA Tour history is 61. Don’t be surprised if that is pipped at this week’s $75,000 Al Ain Open by Arena with some even predicting golf’s mythical mark of 59 could be obtained.

MG Keyser, the leader of the Journey to Jordan heading into the penultimate regular-season event of the year starting Monday, is the holder of the 18-hole record, having posted the score of 61 not once but twice.

The Dubai-based South African signed for an 11-under-par, second-round loop of Dubai Hills in March en-route to victory at Troon Series-Dubai Open after first posting 61 to set up victory in the 2017 Dubai Creek Open. That was a 10-under opening round circuit of Dubai Creek, a score amateur Rayhan Thomas matched the score in the second round of the same tournament only to lose to Keyser in a playoff.

With little wind protecting the wide, manicured fairways and receptive greens at Al Ain Equestrian Shooting and Golf Club during this week’s Pro-Am and practice rounds, a birdie fest is in the offing.

The professional course record at the 6,764-yard course is a 63 by Alex Wrigley in the Mercedes-Benz International ProAm in February 2017, while the amateur record is a 61 by Brazilian Herik Machado during the 2017 Faldo Series Grand Final.

Dubai-based 15-year-old amateur Josh Hill flirted with the course record with a 62 in last year’s Faldo Series Middle East Championship. After recording his best ever T-6 finish on the MENA Tour by Arena in the last event at Yas Links Abu Dhabi, Hill is predicting low numbers this week.

“I won’t be surprised if someone shoots a 59 this week,” the Dubai-based, England age-group rep said. “If the wind does not pick up and if you are hitting it well off the tee, this course sets you up with plenty of birdie chances and the greens roll really well.”

In the Pro-Am on Saturday, England’s Taylor Carter made 12 birdies.

“I think a 59 is out there, but it does depend on various things, especially the wind,” said Carter. “It is not the longest course we play all year and there are a lot of wedge shots out there which you can get close. If it stays calm like this, we can see some very low scores over the next three days.”

England’s James Allan, winner of the Abu Dhabi Open by Arena at Yas Links, said the golf course can play two ways.

“You can obviously go low here, but the players will have to be wary of not getting frustrated if they do not get off to a good start. If you don’t get a few birdies on the front nine, many players will start pushing harder on the back nine, and it can have a negative effect,” said the 25-year-old from Chelmsford, who will bypass next week’s Ras Al Khaimah Open to participate in the second stage of European Tour Q-School.

“[This week] is a crucial week for me as far as winning the Journey to Jordan on the MENA Tour is concerned,” Allan said. “I have only this week and then the Arena Championship [at Ayla Golf Club in Jordan] to catch up with the leaders. But it is not what I am going to focus on – I am just hoping to continue playing good golf and hopefully, the results will take care of everything.”

The MENA Tour by Arena continues to provide Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points, thus making it a perfect pathway for ambitious young professional to the bigger tours, and for the players from the region to qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.