All systems go for 11th Dubai Golf Trophy

The top amateur and professional golfers in the country are gearing up for the blue riband event of the local golfing calendar which has been brought forward this season a weekend prior to next month’s Ryder Cup.

The Dubai Golf Trophy which is normally held at the season will serve as a curtain-raiser this time when it is played over three rounds over at the Creek and Majlis courses on September 25 and 26.

“We of Dubai Golf feel it is the top golfing event in the region from an amateur perspective for local golfers and it rewards the best golfers in the region both amateur and professional by pitting the best 16 against each other,” said Christopher May, general manager of Dubai Golf.

The match is played in a very similar team format to the Ryder Cup of four-balls, foursomes and singles.

“It has always been an evenly contested match and gives the opportunity for amateurs to compete against the professionals. The professionals have everything to lose (their reputation). The amateurs have nothing to lose,” said May.

“It provides golfers something to look forward to by competing in all the events hosted by the professionals and all the events by EGF (Emirates Golf Federation) for the amateurs to play in. Top players compete in this match which brings the best of the best together. We feel that we should support and encourage those golfers both amateur and professional to play more frequently and to compete against each other to be as good as they can be,” he said.

There are plans to make it the season-opener in future as well. “Historically it has been the season-closing event. Having moved it this year to be closer to the Ryder Cup it is something we would like at doing in future as the curtain-raiser to the season. It does reward everyone who has participated last season with an event over the two best golf courses in Dubai,” said May.

History shows that twice the amateurs have beaten the professionals since the event began in 2000. “This year there is very little in it. It’s really who plays best on the two days,” he said.

It’s all about honour and not prize money. “It is just pure golf for the enjoyment of the game. It is not a major crowd puller but in the golf community it is a prestigious event to play,” he added.

He did not rule out the prospect of amateurs springing another surprise.

“Amateurs have become much more formidable opponents over professionals in recent years. There is a lot of talent in the amateur team in the junior ranks especially young UAE nationals. It is wonderful to see they are playing very good golf and giving the professionals a very good game. If the pros play to the best of their ability they should win but the amateurs probably play more competitive golf through the year so a surprise is always a possibility,” he said.

However, captain of the Amateurs John Mills feels it wouldn’t be a surprise if they manage to win. “We got a very strong team with lot of members of the Dubai Creek (Golf and Yachting Club). It will be tough because the professionals they are all very good,” he said.

“We’ve been unlucky in that three of the original qualifiers can’t be available. Tom Green starts university. The other two Michael Harradine and Nick Brewaes are away on business. But their replacements are great competitors and good fighters,” said the skipper confidently.

They have four rookies in the group in Daniel Hendry, Joel Neale, Ivan Lawon and Steve Bennett. The youngest member of the team is Aditya Judge.

Much is expected from Emirati brothers Abdulla and Ahmed Al Musharrekh whom Mills described as “two very good golfers and great assets to the team.” The other UAE player is Khalid Yousuf, a senior player in the UAE golf team.

Asked whether the tie could be decided on the first day, he said: “Historically four-balls and foursomes are always close. And the singles get very exciting. It is very competitive and friendly,” he said shrugging any advantage of familiarity with the course with the majority of his team being Creek Club members.

“This is a very fair golf course. It is a good golf course for spectators. It would be nice to some golfing spectators come out and support everybody,” he said.

Professionals captain Luke Cantelo is wary of the favourites tag. “I don’t think there any favourites in these events. Competition during the last couple of years has been very tight. The match is always even like the Ryder Cup,” said the non-playing captain.

Asked about their preparations for this event, Cantelo said the players were raring to go after the summer break. “Lot of the guys have played over the summer. They are in good form and keen to get started,” he said.

Cantelo feels the match being a season-opener would affect both teams. “Some guys may be a little bit rusty,” he said looking forward to the Ryder Cup weekend as well.

Having played in the last two matches, sitting on the cart would be a new experience for him.

“It will be an interesting experience. They say when you captain a team it is worse than when you are playing. At least when you are playing you have to concentrate on your match. When you are not playing, have to concentrate on two lots of eight and 16 singles,” he said.

He made light of home advantage playing on the result of the match. “I think both pros and amateurs know the course pretty well. The good thing about the Creek everything is pretty much in front of you. You are not getting a bad bounce or anything. Course is always in such good condition,” said Cantelo who was part of their victorious campaign during the last two years.

He also expects the first day to be evenly contested. “Foursomes and four-balls has basically been a stalemate last year. The whole event hinged on one or two matches at the end of the day. It gets to a pretty good climax at the end of the two days and it’s pretty nerve wracking,” he said.

“We don’t like losing to the amateurs,” declared the Professionals skipper adding to the intrigue of the Dubai Golf Trophy.

Teams

PROFESSIONALS

Simon Payne (Tower Links Golf Club), Stephen Munro (Jumeirah Golf Estates), David Gray (Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club), Stephen Deane (Emirates Golf Club), Stephen Hubner (DCGYC), Richard Sheridan (Butch Harmon School of Golf), Craig Martin (ECS Golf), Jamie Wood (EGC), Andy Mathews (EGC), Alan Johnson (Ghantoot Polo & Racing Club), Ross McArthur (Al Hamra Golf Club), Mark Bull (Jebel Ali Golf Club), Andrew Pilford (Al Hamra), Fraser McLaughan (Palm Sports Resort), Paul Hubner (Arabian Ranches Golf Club), Malcolm Young (Vice-captain, ARGC), Luke Cantelo (Non-playing captain, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club)

AMATEURS (prefix denotes handicap)

+3-MikiMirza (DCGYC), 0-Vikram Judge (DCGYC), 1-Abdulla Al Musharrekh (DCGYC), +3-Ahmed Al Musharrekh (DCGYC), +1-Paul King (DCGYC), +3-Khalid Yousuf (EGC), 0-Frederiksson Pontus (EGC), +2-Dino Varkey (DCGYC), +1-John Mills (Captain, ARGC), 2-Alex Charawani (ADGC), +3-Daniel Hendry (EGC), +2-Joel Neale (DCGYC), 0-Jay Varkey (DCGYC), 1-Ivan Lawson, 2-Steve Bennett (ARGC), 2-Aditya Judge (DCGYC)