Czech Suk holds off Joy to take first professional win at Mena Golf Tour’s Sheikh Maktoum Open

Cyril Suk, centre, with Mena tour chairman Mohamed Juma Buamaim, right, Al Badia Golf Club manager James Shippey, found joy in the final round of the Sheikh Maktoum Open, the tour’s fourth stop. Mena Show more

DUBAI // Cyril Suk birdied the closing hole to pull off a dramatic victory for his first professional win at the Sheikh Maktoum Open at Al Badia Golf Club on Wednesday.

One shot off the pace going into the final round, the 21-year-old Florida-based golfer served notice of his burgeoning talent and became the first Czech Republic player to win a Mena Golf Tour event since its inception in 2011.

“I really played well and won in the end. It feels great to win my first tournament as a professional,” said Suk after receiving the winner’s trophy and a cheque for US$9,000 (Dh33,000).

Playing his second tournament on the Mena Golf Tour, Suk had five birdies and a bogey in his closing 68 to finish on nine-under 207.

That proved too good for nearest challenger Luke Joy, whose second place was two shots adrift, while England’s Paul Doherty took third on six-under 210.

Standing on the 18th tee at nine-under, England’s Joy needed a birdie for an outright win, but the winner of last week’s Dubai Creek Open instead found water from a greenside bunker and ended with a double-bogey.

Joint overnight leader England’s Matt Fitzpatrick faded out of contention after a nine on the par-5 fifth, which was followed by a double bogey. He closed with a six-over 78 to finish in a tie for seventh on level-par 216.

“I knew the leaders [Joy and Fitzpatrick] would play well, but I concentrated on my game. It was unfortunate to see Luke [Joy] walk off with a double on the closing hole,” said Suk, who turned professional in November last year.

England’s Joy had no regrets in finishing second. “I think I played really well, going bogey-free for 50 holes. That double-bogey on the closing hole was unfortunate, but that’s golf, take it on the chin and get back on the horse as soon as possible,” he said.

England’s James Allan returned a final round 69 to win the amateur division on a three-over 219, two shots ahead of Switzerland’s Michael Harradine.

Morocco’s Younes El Hassani won the Mena Division for the Sheikh Maktoum Golf Foundation Award on a four-over 220, two shots ahead of compatriot Faycal Serghini and five from UAE’s Ahmed Al Musharrekh.

The Tour is at Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Beach Golf Club next week for the Ascorp Golf Citizen Open.

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