After three winless years as a professional, Harry Konig finally got his hands on some silverware with a stunning finish at the MENA Tour’s Journey to Jordan Tour Championship at Ayla Golf Club yesterday.
The 24-year-old had thought of giving up his dreams of playing professional golf in 2020 but this one-stroke victory has spurred him on to continue.
The Englishman played the final five holes in 4-under to post an 11-under-par total and win ahead of four players on 10-under.
“I just can’t believe it. It’s an experience that I have never felt before, so I am lost for words. I was never in touch of winning and then I had that finish,” said Konig, who dedicated the win to his late friend Charlie Watson, who passed away two years ago. “I was playing so bad. And like yesterday, I just told myself to start playing aggressive again and start going for the flags.”
“It’s quite a coincidence that I played my first tournament as a professional on 28th November, 2016, in Spain on the Gecko Tour. And it’s been three very difficult years. Professional golf is hard. I had spoken to my parents and was planning to give up playing competitive golf next year – and then this happens. I think I will continue playing.” – Harry Konig
Fellow Englishman Joshua Grenville-Wood looked on course for his first professional win but reeled off two late bogeys, including one on 18, as he was forced to settle for second place alongside Todd Clements, Jamie Rutherford and Henric Sturehed.
Order of Merit winners
Meanwhile the small matter of the two season-long Order of Merit battles were settled as South African MG Keyser won the Professional rankings and Dubai-born English hot-shot Joshua Hill clinched the Amateur race.
Hill, who became the youngest winner of an OWGR-recognised event last month at the Al Ain Open by Arena, was leading at the start of the day, but couldn’t get any momentum on the final day and ended in a share of ninth place.
Opportunities
As the Tour Championship winner, Konig has earned himself a start at the $750,000 Indonesian Masters on the Asian Tour in December and also gets a spot in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic for finishing second in the Final Five Order of Merit.
Keyser, who finished with total earnings of $45,153 from the season, said the Journey to Jordan win had the potential to change his future.
“I think one of the things every professional golfer looks for is consistency, and that was one of the most pleasing aspect of my season,” said Keyser, who did not miss a cut in 2019.
“I am planning to play more in Europe and this gives me two starts on the European Tour and also in the Diamond Cup in Japan. These are great opportunities and it is now up to me to make the most out of it.” – MG Keyser
The 2020 season of the MENA Tour begins with two stages of the Qualifying School, to be played January 20-23 and January 26-29 at Ayla Golf Club in Jordan.
