Dubai resident Garrick Porteous has claimed the Abu Dhabi Challenge at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club, after a final day’s battle in the desert sun.

The 34-year-old, who made the UAE his home last September and took up membership at Trump International Dubai, was tied for the lead at the start of the final round at 17 under par, alongside South African Wilco Nienaber and five-time DP World Tour winner, Alexander Levy.

It was the Frenchman that looked the coolest in the heat as a front nine of 30, which included five birdies and four pars, saw him extend his lead to two.

Porteous remained on Levy’s heels which proved dividends, as the Frenchman would go onto bogey the 12th and 15th hole, while Garrick produced back-to-back birdies on the 14th and 15th, moving him to 23 under par, two clear from Levy.

Although Levy bounced back with birdie on the par four 16th and a further gain on the par five 18th to cut the deficit to just one, Levy could just watch on as Porteous rolled in his seventh birdie of the day and the Abu Dhabi Challenge title, his second Challenge Tour title, coming seven years ago at the Prague Golf Challenge.

“It feels amazing,” said Porteous. “I’ve loved every minute of it, it’s been a great host venue here in Al Ain and after moving over here, I guess to win on home soil is great!”

“I’m used to the weather conditions, the heat, the grass type, the speed of the greens. So definitely helped in the situations this week.”

The 2013 Amateur Champion, who ironically turned professional 10 years ago this week after competing at The 2024 Masters, reclaimed his playing privileges on the DP World Tour via Q-School at the end of last year. This victory moves him from 100th on the Road to Mallorca Rankings up to seventh.

In another low scoring day in Al Ain, the course record that was broken on Friday by Nienaber’s 10 under par, was matched on Sunday by Scotland’s Euan Walker after his bogey-free 60.

Joshua Grenville-Wood was highest placed UAE National, finishing the tournament at seven under par.

Garrick was joined at the prize ceremony by Walid Al Attar – Board Member of Emirates Golf Federation, Mohammed Rashid Al Nasseri –  General Manager Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club, Adel Al Yaqoubi – International Events Department Director Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Tom Phillips Head of Middle East European Tour Group.

The Challenge Tour remains in the emirate of Abu Dhabi for another week of tournament action, as next week the UAE Challenge at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, takes place between the 25th – 28th April.

Image: Octavio Passos / Getty Images