Golof: Aaron Rai earns European Tour card with third win on ‘Road to Oman’ Challenge Tour

Muscat: Aaron Rai capped an incredible six months with a third European Challenge Tour victory of the season at Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge, securing himself European Tour status in the process. There are now only 14 events remaining until the curtain closes on the Road to Oman finale, between November 1 and November 4. The season will conclude at the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final event at Almouj Golf.
The Englishman was ruthless on the final day at Golf PGA France du Vaudreuil, recovering from a rare early blemish on the second hole to open up a two-shot advantage at the turn before he pulled emphatically away from the field on the back nine.
Four birdies in five holes from the 13th gave him a six-shot cushion coming down the last and his 18 under par total was ultimately five shots better than his playing partner and overnight co-leader Morten Orum Madsen, whose closing birdie earned him second place outright.
Three victories in a season have earned Rai immediate promotion to the European Tour but, having now regained the lead in the Road to Oman Rankings, he will likely split his time between both tours for the remainder of the year. It’s certainly the accomplishment of a life goal, earning a European Tour card,” the 22-year-old said.
No other player in the top five shot under 70, showing how impressive Rai’s five under par round of 66 was, with runner-up Madsen securing his best result for a couple of years, one shot ahead of Ryan Evans and Mark Tullo, who shared third place.
Christopher Mivis’ third top five finish in two months took him into the top 15 on the Road to Oman, while three shots behind him, Mathieu Fenasse and Clement Sordet were the leading Frenchmen on home soil, the pair finishing in a tie for ninth place.
If Rai ends up participating the 2017 NBO Golf Classic Grand Final, it will be his second grand final in the Sultanate. Rai finished T34 at three under par in the 2016 tournament, and he will be expected to improve in this year’s final at Almouj Golf.
The NBO Golf Classic Grand Final is the culmination of the European Challenge Tour’s ‘Road to Oman’, which includes 27 tournaments across 22 different countries.
NBO also actively promotes the sport of Golf in the Sultanate, with the latest endeavor being a golf roadshow at the Military Technological College to teach military cadets the basics of golf.