The MENA Golf Tour season is officially underway at Portugal’s PGA Aroeira No 2 Course, with a field of hungry golfers from all over the world teeing it up for what could be a life-changing few months for their playing ambitions.
All unfolding a few miles outside of Lisbon, the gathered competitors could not have reasonably wished for a more favourable winter’s day to embark on their first day of the 54-hole tournament, and St Mellion-based Irishman, Tyler Hogarty, was among those to make hay in the early going.
Hogarty, playing on a tournament invitation, birdied three of the first nine to make the turn at three-under, then added another three over the following eight before a bogey on the par-3 18th saw him slip back to -5 and he ended the day one shot behind the leading duo in a share of third.
Jack Madden, who earned his way onto the tour with a sixth-place finish at MENA Q-School last week, mixed four birdies with three bogeys and he goes into round two in a share of 20th at -1, and just five off the lead.
That lead is currently shared by Scotland’s Sebastian Sandin and Italy’s Ludovico Addabbo, both carding impressive six-under-par scores on their opening rounds.
“I just focused on getting the ball in play off the tee, and trying to take advantage of the par fives, kept hitting greens and giving myself a lot of chances,” said Sandin, whose bogey-free opening round provided a clear indicator of why he’s enjoyed such a stellar year, recently punctuated by his second place finish at the MENA Golf Tour’s own Q School last week.
“Wins like that reassure me that my game is still there, if I just trust it and keep doing what I know how to do. You can’t really complain when you hit a 66. Tomorrow is going to be the same strategy. It’s tough to change anything when you score like that, so hopefully I can continue.”
Sandin’s top spot was later muscled in on by Ludovico Addabbo, another of last week’s impressive Q School graduates, whose 20-foot birdie putt at the last meant his 66 was signed off in fine fashion.
“I’m very pleased. I started with a birdie on hole one, then I managed to make some pars,” said an understandably jovial Addabbo after the round. “The course is tree lined, on a few holes there’s wind into you from the left, so if you’re a fader it’s tough. And some greens are a little bouncy, so you have to wait for your time.”
That patience particularly came to the fore after a bogey on the 13th momentarily threatened Addabbo’s leaderboard climb, but a hot streak of three birdies in his last five holes fired him back to the joint-top of the pack heading into tomorrow’s penultimate round.
As the course bared its teeth, some of the bigger names in the field struggled. Last week’s Q School victor Chris Wood fought in the fading light to an even par finish, with the equally experienced head of Sebastian Gros ending his day at one over par.
The PGA Aroeira Challenge is the first of 12 events offering $100,000 prize funds and Official World Golf Ranking points. It’s also the opening act of consecutive Portuguese tournaments, with the Rolear Algarve Classic at Amendoeira (2-4 December) following immediately after this week’s action. The Tour then relocates to Egypt for four events in January and February before moving to Morocco, where a mid-season Q-Sprint on 22-23 February will give additional players the opportunity to join the Tour or improve their category status.
With guaranteed prize funds, rapid 48-hour payouts, and OWGR points available throughout the season, the MENA Golf Tour offers a credible pathway for professionals at all stages of their careers.
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