Dubai: Round seven of the nine-stage Mena Golf Tour takes place in Muscat, Oman, with the Ghala Valley Open, which starts on Monday.
England’s Luke Joy leads the professional order of merit ahead of compatriots Ross McGowan and Joshua White after winning rounds three and five and finishing second in round four.
Meanwhile, England’s James Allan leads the amateur order of merit ahead of compatriot Craig Vance and Scotland’s Daniel Kay after finishing first in rounds one and four and second in round three.
Arab talent will be spurred on by the success of Morocco’s Ahmad Marjane, who became the first ever Arab winner on tour with victory in round six of the series at the Ras Al Khaimah Classic at Tower Links Golf Club two weeks ago.
Morocco’s Faycal Serghini, in particular, will be hoping to go one better after three career runners-up spots on the tour to date.
“I am up there, contending almost every week and doing things which I need to do win a tournament. But somehow I have not been able to close the deal,” he said.
“There’s always tomorrow and there is always hope. Maybe Ahmed’s victory will rub off on the Mena region players. Who knows? One thing is sure, we won’t give up without a fight.”
Mohammad Juma Bu Amim, chairman of the tour, thanked Oman for its support.
“Oman, which is well known for its striking landscape, has made great strides in putting together solid infrastructure for golf and the hosting of a tour event here strongly endorses the Sultanate’s commitment to broadening the base of golfers in the Arab world,” he said.
“We look forward to working with the Oman Golf Committee with the mutual goal of putting the region’s golf on the world’s sporting map.”
