Oman Amateur Open winner to qualify for European Tour event

Sports Tuesday 19/December/2017 18:25 PM
By: Times News Service
Oman Amateur Open winner to qualify for European Tour event

Muscat: In what can be termed as a right recognition of the strides made by golf in the Sultanate, the winner of the 2018 Oman Amateur Open will the earn the right to compete in the Oman European Tour event.
According to information received from the organisers, the Oman Amateur Open, which will be partnering with OHI for the second year running, will be organised at Ghala Golf Club on January 26 and 27, 2018 and is ‘shaping-up to be a landmark event’.
For the first time in its nine-year run, the winner of OHI Oman Amateur Open will earn a place in Oman’s European Tour event, which is scheduled to be held at Almouj Golf Club in February.
The European Tour event will be the first of its kind in the Sultanate and comes on the back of the fifth successful Challenge Tour event hosted at Almouj Golf Club in November.
“It’s a great privilege to be able to offer the opportunity to play in a European Tour event, it’s fantastic motivation for our golfers and those across the region,” said Mundhir Al Barwani, Chairman of the Oman Golf Committee (OGC).
“With OHI supporting the event again, it’s going to be a successful weekend for golf in Oman. We’re looking forward to welcoming all the amateur golfers who will be coming from abroad, specially to compete in this event, and showing them what a great golfing destination Oman is.”
The Open, which is a two-day stroke play competition, sees 120 golfers compete for the prestigious title in men’s, women’s and junior categories. It is a particularly popular tournament for the region’s golfers, with many travelling from across the Middle East to participate.
Meanwhile, Eihab Al Saleh, CEO of OHI, said: “Golf in Oman is at a very exciting stage and OHI is committed to help grow the game in Oman and promoting junior golf for which there is a separate category.
“We had no hesitation when approached to continue being the title sponsors. Golf is such a unique and accessible sport, with golfers aged seven to over 70 coming together across the two days of game play.”
Previous Amateur Open winners, including Nasser Yaqoob (2017), Sulthan Abdullah Sultan (2016), and Azzan Al Rumhy (2012) – as well as local club leaders, 2017 Order of Merit leaders, and past Oman Major winners, among others, have already pre-qualified for the event, leaving the remaining places in high-demand.
With a European Tour event within the reach, serious amateurs are quick to register for the OHI Oman Amateur Open, where lower-handicapped golfers will be given preference.
Through the European Tour event, the OHI Oman Amateur Open has cemented itself as a prestigious tournament for regional amateur golfers and a legitimate pathway for amateurs striving to make it as professionals.
Proving Oman is a serious golfing destination, the OGC hopes this event will continue to strengthen Oman’s place in the golfing world.
Registrations for the event, through the Golf Oman website, close on January 10, 2018.
A OGC statement said: “Golf Oman values OHI’s support as the title sponsor for the second year, and continues to be supported by Golf Oman partners: Omantel, National Bank of Oman and Oman LNG.”