Sweden’s From hopes for more MENA Tour glory in S. Africa
JOHANNESBURG: Fresh off his maiden victory on the MENA Tour, a confident Fredrik From will be hoping to keep the momentum going when the tour hits the South African shores for a three-event series, co-sanctioned with the Sunshine Big Easy Tour, starting Wednesday.
The 27-year-old Swede shot a bogey-free 63 in the final round to upstage a strong field and win the rain- shortened Pattana Golf Championship, the third and final event on the tour’s Thailand swing in May, in a defining high mark of his still young career.
From will need to find extra spring in his game if he aims to extend his dominant run at the South to East Challenge that travels to a new venue this year at Ebotse Links in Benoni, a soughtafter property described as the only ‘inland links’ course in South Africa.
Headlined by defending champion Bryandrew Roelofsz of South Africa, current Order of Merit leader Etienne Bond and MENA Tour regular Chris Cannon, who recently broke through on the Big Easy Sunshine Tour with a two-shot win at the Kempton Park event in May, the field is packed with a slew of potential winners, promising a fantastic golf spectacle for world ranking points.
“I feel like I am moving in the right direction and my play is getting better and better. So I am looking forward to the week,” said Cannon, the 30-year-old son of a golf photographer David and one who also boasts a string of strong finishes on the MENA Tour.
The South to East Challenge field, comprising 100 players, will see 37 MENA Tour professionals and five amateurs take on their counterparts from the Sunshine Big Easy Tour, hoping to make inroads into the domination of South African golfers, who swept the top-five places last year.
England’s Luke Joy will be looking to make amends after missing the cut at the Zambia Open on the Sunshine Tour last week as he joins fellow MENA Tour winners Tyler Hogarty of South Africa, Chile’s Antonio Costa and Cyril Suk of the Czech Republic in the field which runs deep in talent.
Brazil’s Dubai-based prodigy Tiago Lobo, who is currently placed second to Switzerland’s Michael Harradine in the Order of Merit standings, will spearhead the MENA Tour challenge in the ama- teur division that has also attracted entries from Oman, India, England and South Africa.
The South to East Challenge will be decided over 54 holes of strokeplay with leading 50 professionals and ties making it to the final round after the cut which will be made after round two.
“We are very excited with our association with the Sunshine Big Easy Tour, which will benefit members of both the tours and help further stimulate the growth of golf. South Africa boasts some of the best and most beautiful golf courses in the world. I am confident our members will have fun playing there,” said Mohamed Juma Buamaim, chairman of the MENA Tour.
Designed by Matkovich and Hayes Golf Course Architects, Ebotse Links has been built to US PGA specifications with a 6,372meter par 72-rating. Featuring seven holes on the water, the course is currently ranked the 32nd best course by Golf Digest SA.
The South to East Challenge will be followed by the Jo’burg City Masters at the Country Club from June 13 to 15 before the tour’s South Africa safari comes to an end with The Roar to be played at Waterkloof Golf Club in Pretoria June 20-22.
An initiative of the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation, the MENA Golf Tour was created in 2011 with the aim of developing golf in the region. It is affiliated to R& A, the worldwide golf governing body based in the home of golf, St. Andrews, and the Arab Golf Federation and enjoys the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) status.