About 100 players will take part in the Qatar Open Amateur Golf Championship beginning at the Doha Golf Club on January 25, organisers announced yesterday.
The tournament, to be played over three rounds, assumes added importance as its winner gets to match his skills against some of the best players in the business at the European Tour’s Commercial Bank Qatar Masters to be held in late February. A world ranking tournament for amateurs, it has been a regular feature of the regional golf scene for the past 32 years giving amateurs a valuable platform to display their skills
Qatar Golf Association Executive Director Mohamed al-Naimi told a press conference yesterday that this year’s edition will see the toughest field assembled in Qatar, with several former professionals who have fallen off the money list among the participants.
“The Qatar Open is known for its quality of competition but this year the field is the best-ever,” he said. Among the former pros confirmed is Englishman Simon Khan who has won two titles on the European Tour and is now ranked 999th in the world, besides Frenchman Romain Langasque.
The 22-year-old French Langasque had tied for 65th position in the 2015 Open Championship and finished joint 39th spot at the Masters a year later.
Khan is a Qatar Masters veteran, having played 12 times in Doha, with a tied sixth position his best in 2013. Other former professionals include German Sean Einhaus, Spanish Carlos Del Moral, Italian Michele Cea and English Jean Michel Hall.
Defending champion Pierre Verlaar of the Netherlands will be once again seen in action as he bids to defend his title. Players from Bahrain, UAE and Saudi Arabia, who have been regulars in the amateur tournament, will be staying away due to the ongoing Gulf crisis.
The local spotlight will be on Ali al-Shahrani, Abdulrahman Abdulla al-Shahrani, Saleh al-Kaabi, Abdulaziz al-Boainin and Jeham al-Kuwari who are with the lowest handicaps among the 11 Qatari players.
Qatar Golf Association Assistant Secretary-General Mohamed al-Mohanadi, Saeed al- Hajri and Adil Khaloufi of Royal Air Maroc, and representatives of InterContinental Doha Hotel and Al Muftah Rent a Car were also present at the press conference. Al-Mohanadi also welcomed new sponsor Royal Air Maroc, the official airline of Morocco.
Khaloufi, who is the country manager for the airline, said Royal Air Maroc will sponsor three events this season in Doha. “We’re delighted to be associated with the Qatar Golf Association for the Qatar Amateur Open. We will also sponsor two more events,” he said.