The international stars of the newly renamed Staysure Tour will get the second instalment of the Sharjah Senior Golf Masters presented by Shurooq underway at the immaculately presented Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club, with the champion set to be decided after Saturday’s final round.
Last year the event made history as the first ever European Tour-sanctioned tournament to be staged on a nine-hole golf course and more magical memories are certain to be set this week as a superb field tees it up in front of an enthusiastic crowd.
Led by last year’s Order of Merit champion Clark Dennis and defending champion Chris Williams, a host of past Ryder Cup players, Senior Major champions, Staysure Tour winners and Order of Merit winners are here this week, hoping to take the honours in this unique event.
Dennis won twice last year to top the Tour ranking while Williams’ win here in Sharjah turned out to be the springboard for his best season on Tour as he finished second to the American Dennis on the 2017 season-long ranking.
Australian Peter Fowler, who won the Order of Merit in 2011, came third at the end of the 2017 campaign with seven top-tens, while England’s Philip Golding made the top ten on the Order of Merit for the fifth consecutive year, thanks to two wins, at the Swiss Seniors Open, and the Travis Perkins Masters.
Barry Lane was also a winner last year, at the Willow Senior Golf Classic en route to taking seventh place on the Order of Merit. Lane won the MCB Tour Championship in Mauritius in 2016 for his first win since 2012, the year he finished second on the Order of Merit.
A Ryder Cup player in 1993, Lane is delighted to be back in Sharjah for another crack at the title. “I played OK but I didn’t play fantastic golf last year,” said the Englishman, who finished in a share of 29th place last year.
“I got off to a good start on the front nine on day one but then gave some shots back. The scoring was good and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s a lovely golf course and the facilities are fantastic, the course itself was in great condition and it was a great week. I’m hoping to play better this time around.”
Joining Lane is a host of past Ryder Cup stars, including Ireland’s Des Smyth and Ronan Rafferty, Costantino Rocca, Gordon Brand Jnr, Phillip Price, Jarmo Sandelin, Miguel Angel Martin, Peter Baker, José Rivero, Philip Walton, and Steven Richardson.
Also in the field are two-time Senior Major Champion Roger Chapman, who became the first European to win both the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship and U.S. Senior Open in the same season in 2012, and 2016 Senior Tour Rookie of the Year Magnus P. Atlevi, who secured his maiden Senior Tour title at Le Golf National, host venue of The 2018 Ryder Cup, at the Paris Legends Championship.
Every year a clutch of European Tour professionals turn 50 and reach the qualifying age to play on the Staysure Tour – making it that little bit more of a challenge for the established players out on Tour.
The new blood, often fitter, sometimes fresher and always just as hungry as their older counterparts, add to the competition and this year is no different as the likes of Ryder Cup heroes Baker and Sandelin and Thai star Thaworn Wiratchant – a two-time Asian Tour Number One – all make their first appearance in the Sharjah Senior Golf Masters.
The event, which offers free entry for spectators, is being supported by some top class local sponsors.
Nick Tarratt, Director European Tour Middle East, said: “We are delighted to welcome our title sponsors Shurooq for their support along with all the supporters, without whom, this tournament would not be taking place. Special thanks go to Invest in Sharjah, Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club, the Staysure Tour, BMW AGMC, Radisson Hotel Ajman, ARN Radio, Orient Irrigation, Tasweeq, Al Laith, Flow, Wicked, Aquafina and the Emirates Golf Federation.”
The next chapter in the story of this burgeoning new Staysure Tour event is waiting to be written and whoever is crowned champion on Saturday, fans can be sure of some exceptional golf played in the unique fun, relaxed yet competitive atmosphere which makes senior tournaments so enjoyable.
Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club celebrates 10th anniversary with golfing legends ahead of Sharjah Senior Golf Masters presented by Shurooq
Winning with a combined score of 15 under par in the Texas Scramble format were Barry Cotter, Vivian Verma, Sultan Al Ali and Hans Ettengruber. Course designer Harradine, who was in attendance, said: “It really is staggering that its over 12 years ago that I sat with his Excellency Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani making plans to open the Emirate of Sharjah’s first fully grassed golf course and even more staggering to see the facility’s progress since opening 10 years ago. To host a major tour event, the first ever one on a 9-hole golf course, is a quite incredible achievement. I’ve long been an advocate of 9-hole courses and I strongly believe they have a real future in within the game of golf”.
Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club’s Director of Golf, Martin Duff, added: “We are delighted to have been able to piggy back on this week’s Sharjah Senior Golf Masters and run an event like today where current and former members got to enjoy playing a hole alongside golfing legends in a fun and relaxing Texas Scramble format. Everyone undoubtedly had a truly memorable day. Our thanks to the four players, the Staysure Tour and of course congratulations to the winners.”
Entry to this year’s Sharjah Senior Golf Masters presented by Shurooq is free of charge.
