Dubai: Ross McGowan leads the Mena Golf Tour professional Order of Merit after first and third-place finishes in the first two of events of the 10-stage series in the Moroccan cities of Rabat and Mohammedia.
The 32-year-old Englishman overturned a record-equalling six-shot deficit on the final day to win the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam Open by three shots and kept the momentum rolling with a solo third at the Royal D’Anfa Open, just three shots off the pace.
With $13,000 (Dh47,750) in earnings from the first two events, McGowan is now comfortably on top of the professional standings ahead of Scotland’s Paul Doherty, who recorded his maiden victory on the tour in Mohammedia following a tied for ninth finish in Rabat.
England’s Lee Corfield is third after finishing second in Mohammedia despite missing the cut in Rabat.
For McGowan, the victory in Rabat was his second on tour following the 2012 Abu Dhabi Open, which he won by a record six shots.
One of the most experienced players in the field, having won the European Tour’s 2009 Madrid Masters which was highlighted by a third-round 12-under 60, McGowan will be the player to beat when the tour resumes after a summer break in September.
England’s James Allan has taken the lead in the amateur division with a second and third place finish in Rabat and Mohammedia ahead of Michael Harradine who finished sixth and second, and England’s Alex Willis who finished first and missed the cut.
Special mention should also go to Morocco’s Faycal Serghini who has taken an early lead in the Arab division of the professional Order of Merit with a tied for fourth and tied for 15th finish in Rabat and Mohammedia, ahead of Ahmed Marjane, who finished tied for seventh and seventh and Amine Joudar, who finished tied for 45th and tied for fourth.
Saudi Arabia’s Khaled Attieh is also proving to be the one to watch in the amateur Arab division after fourth and sixth place finishes, ahead of Karim Al Hali, who finished fifth and fourth.
