In the fourth and final event of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Golf Tour now in progress at the Al Ain Golf Course, UAE, the Pakistani Golf professionals participating in this international grand event appeared notable indeed in the presence of European Tour and USA Golf Tour professionals.
At the end of the second round of the Championship, through scores that reflect excellence and superior application of golfing skills. Without doubt the duo of these educated professionals, Aadil Jehangir (Gymkhana) and Shahid Javed Khan (Royal Palm) have kept their nerves under control and managed aggregate scores of 136, eight under par and 137, seven under par respectively, as against similar scores of 139, five under par by Shafiq Masih and Matloob Ahmed. The latter two may be just three strokes behind Aadil but on the leaderboard, while Aadil is placed fourth and Shahid is fifth, Shafiq and Matloob are way down at the 17th position. That is the kind of competition golf professionals have to face at international level and this MENA Golf Tour is providing them occasions to hone their skills and look forward to huge opportunities of earning money and honours.
As for the championship itself, Jonathan Porteous of Great Britain is the leader with rounds of 65 and 68 with an aggregate of 133, 11 under par followed by his countryman Jake Shepherds at 134. A stroke behind and bunched together at 135 are Sean Mcnamar (USA) and Peter Richardson (Great Britain) and then comes Aadil Jehangir at 136, with rounds of 68 and again 68, looking solid indeed in full control of his game and feeling at home amongst champions of substance. Gary Bird (Germany) and Younis Al Hassan (Morocco) breathe down Aadils neck.
The Al Ain Golf Course offers a picturesque and challenging experience for these competitors as it is a professionally designed layout, par 71, playing 6612 yards from black tees. A very special feature of this golf course is that it boasts of having the longest hole in UAE and that is the par-5, 10th hole measuring 678 yards from the black tee and poses a challenge even to the big hitters.
Aadil Jehangir and Shahid offered immense gratitude to the Sheikh Maktoum Golf Foundation for creating such good openings. Aadil further said, “I’m not disappointed by the fact that I am not on top. The scores are great an amazing and a boost to my confidence”.