Forty of the top junior golfers from the Emirates Golf Federation’s Order of Merit moved one step closer to securing a place in the “Luckiest Ball on Earth” team for the DP World Tour Championship’s Pro-Am after coming through the 2018 Order of Merit Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
The mixed Championship saw the juniors go head to head over a two-day, 36 hole, strokeplay format in a bid to gain a place in the Luckiest Ball on Earth Grand Final which is set to take place on the Fire course at Jumeirah Golf Estates on October 28. The season came to a fitting conclusion with the Championship being played on the iconic Earth course which will host the top 60 players in the European Tour’s Race to Dubai Rankings from November 15 to 18.
Bradley Mogire (Emirates Golf Club) finished top of the pile after firing rounds of 76–74 for a Championship total of 150 which saw him finish in fourth place in the Boys Gross Order of Merit Standings. Max Cashmore (Jumeirah Golf Estates) finished two shots back to claim second place which was enough to secure top spot in the Order of Merit. Meanwhile, third place went to Niklas Korjonen (The Els Club) who carded a total of 155 to finish the season ranked second in the overall standings. The top ten finishers from the boys and girls Gross and Net Order of Merit will now tee it up back at Jumeirah Golf Estates in October’s Grand Final.
Josh Hill (Jumeirah Golf Estates) Toby Bishop (Emirates Golf Club) and Arjun Gupta (Jumeirah Golf Estates) will also be invited to the Grand Final after the trio finished in the top three of the Men’s Order of Merit. Hill secured top spot with an impressive 339.5 points followed by Gupta on 268.5 whilst Bishop claimed third on 159 points.
“Many congratulations to all of our Junior qualifiers who played superbly all season to finish in the top ten of their respective divisions,” said Nick Tarratt, Director European Tour International, Dubai Office.
“We wish all the competitors the very best of luck in the Grand Final as they look to gain a once in a lifetime experience by taking part in the prestigious Pro-Am ahead of the European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship. I would also like to send our thanks and appreciation to the UAE’s golf clubs and the Emirates Golf Federation for continuing to support this rewarding initiative.”
“As a partner and sanctioning body of the DP World Tour Championship, the EGF is excited to see this opportunity for the Junior Amateurs of the UAE,” added Khalid Mubarak Al Shamsi – EGF Secretary General. “By having the top 40 Juniors from the EGF Order of Merit play in a one-day qualifying event we can provide a great platform for the golfers to showcase their skills. This is a great example of the opportunities that the European Tour and EGF are providing the juniors in the UAE. On behalf of the EGF, I would like to wish all of the players best of luck at the Junior Luckiest Ball on Earth.”
The winning boy or girl from the Grand Final will be awarded a place in the ‘Luckiest Ball on Earth’ team, alongside the adult Luckiest Ball on Earth winners, where they will rub shoulders with the likes of defending DP World Tour Championship winner Jon Rahm, former World No.1 Rory McIlroy and Race to Dubai champion Tommy Fleetwood in the DP World Tour Championship’s Pro-Am on the Earth course on Tuesday November 13.
The Race to Dubai’s climactic event sees the top 60 players on the European Tour’s Race to Dubai competing for a prize fund of US$8 million with an additional Bonus Pool on offer for the top finishers on the season-long Rankings.
The Luckiest Ball on Earth competition has proven to be a big hit with the UAE’s amateur golfers since the initiative was first launched in 2011. The annual competition has traditionally been open to all golfers aged 18 or over who hold an Official Club Handicap recognised by the EGF (maximum 28 for men and 36 for ladies).
Junior Boys Gross Order of Merit | Junior Boys Net Order of Merit | Junior Girls Gross Order of Merit | Junior Girls Net Order of Merit |
---|---|---|---|
Max Cashmore (JGE) | Moussa Shana'ah (EGF) | Hyeonji Kang (EGC) | Fatima Zafar Rizvi (EGC) |
Niklas Korjonen (TEC) | Jay Pangarkar (EGC) | Natalii Gupta (EGC) | Lara El Chaib (ADCGC) |
Jay Mullane (TEC) | Sam Mullane (TEC) | Ailsa Brannock (DCGYC) | Reema Al Heloo (EGF) |
Bradley Mogire (EGC) | Liam Mullen (TEC) | Snigdha Goswami (TEC) | Xavier Arries (TEC) |
Arjun Gupta (EGC) | Mattia Sparacino (JGE) | Jamie Camero (SGSC) | Deborah Chang (EGC) |
Krishiv Tekchandani (EGF) | Mikhil Yadav (TEC) | Tatyana Mogire (EGC) | Sarah Muller (JGE) |
Asanka White (JGE) | Kai Chapleski (TEC) | Kate Bibby (TEC) | Hannah Alan (EGC) |
Vijayesh Haridas (JGE) | Viggo Sorensen (JGE) | Liang Wei Liu (EGC) | Kellie Gachaga (EGF) |
John Burki (TEC) | Joshua Bibby (TEC) | Chantal El Chaib (ADGC) | Sahana Paravantavida (JGE) |
Aryaan Kumar (TEC) | Nikhil Bhatia (DCGYC) | Sakura Kawakami (AAESGC) | Paula Maire Foubik (EGC) |