The HotelPlanner Tour heads to Al Ain this week, for the second of back-to-back events in the United Arab Emirates. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the Abu Dhabi Challenge, supported by Arena, Al Laith and eGolf Megastore.
Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club
The HotelPlanner Tour visits Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club for a second time, 12 months after the venue made its debut on the Road to Mallorca. First opened in 2007, the club became the first grass course in Al Ain and is regarded as one of the region’s finest facilities.
The Championship Course, which will stage this week’s event, houses water on 13 holes and is home to the 678 yard par five tenth, the signature hole. Despite hazards littering most of the course, there are plenty of birdie opportunities, and after Englishman Garrick Porteous won the 2024 edition with a winning total of 24 under par, scoring could once again go low this week.
Local talent
Several local stars will again tee it up in the second event of the UAE swing thanks to the European Tour group’s long term partnership with the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF). The EGF has been allocated 30 spots in each field, which provides opportunities for the UAE’s brightest talent.
Emirati Ahmad Skaik took full advantage at the UAE Challenge, becoming the first UAE amateur to make the cut at a European Tour group sanctioned event. EGF talent joining Skaik in this week’s field include, Neyl Cherrat, Mohammad Skaik, Sam Mullan and Jonathan Selvaraj.
Heating up
Renato Paratore’s UAE Challenge victory has shaken up the Road to Mallorca Rankings, with the Italian rising to seventh after starting the week 74th. Frenchman Oihan Guillamoundeguy is up 28 places to 19th, and South African JC Ritchie has risen to sixth. Australian Danny List has fallen from 14th to 20th and Irishman Liam Nolan has moved from eighth position to tenth.
With Paratore, Ritchie and Guillamoundeguy teeing it up in Al Ain, the summit of the Road to Mallorca Rankings could have a fresh look ahead of the HotelPlanner Tour’s European stretch, which begins at the Challenge de Espana on May 8.
