Golfer Matt Hazell finishes seventh in Dubai title (From Gazette & Herald)

Golfer Matt Hazell finishes seventh in Dubai title

3:26pm Wednesday 23rd January 2013 in Sport

RYEDALE amateur golfer Matt Hazell missed out on the prestigious 2012 League To Dubai title after finishing seventh in the final event in the Middle East.

Hazell, who is a member at Malton & Norton, took on eight other amateurs from across the UK in three rounds of stableford golf over three of Dubai’s top courses – the Wadi by Faldo Course at the Emirates Golf Club, Dubai Creek Golf Club, and the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates. Points were awarded according to daily placings.

The all-expenses-paid trip to the emirate – which included return flights and six nights’ half-board accommodation at a five-star hotel – was his reward for initially battling his way through a local league and a regional final during 2012.

Hazell who plays off a handicap of nine, scored 320 points to finish seventh behind winner Andy Clements, of Cottesmore GC, in West Sussex.

Hazell said: “I’ve been to Dubai a few times so golf in Dubai is nothing new to me – although I definitely didn’t have an advantage.

“When I saw the ad for the League To Dubai, I thought I would give it a go and see what happened. Overall I played average and steady – nothing special – but it has been a very well-organised event with the guys doing a good job.

“All in all, it has been a very good amateur competition with a great variety of standard of player. But we’ve all gelled together and I’ve met one or two people I know from previous competitions. It’s definitely as good a social event as any and they have got the format just right.”

Inspired by the European Tour’s Race To Dubai, the League To Dubai – which is sanctioned by the R&A – pits amateur golfers against each other initially in a local league format, between April and August, playing two home matches and two away.

The league winners head to one of three regional finals from where the top three (top two in the pairs’ competition) qualify for the grand final in Dubai.

To enter the 2013 League To Dubai or to find out more about the competition, visit www.leaguetodubai.co.uk

Results:

Pairs: 1 Chris Wall & Mark Green (both Middlesbrough) 425pts; 2 John Woodward (Castle Combe) & Gary Prescott (Kendleshire) 405; 3 Martin Derrick & Andy Gilbert (both Dyke) 380; 4 Graeme Lawson (Grangemouth) & Darren Murray (Boat of Garten) 365; 5 Malcolm Crowson (Wychwood Park) & Colin Peace (Willow Valley) 355.

Individual: 1 Andy Clements (Cottesmore) 405pts; 2 Richard Harris (Cams Hall Estate) 400; 3 Jeremy Platt (East Berkshire) 380; 4 Malcolm Gregg (Hallamshire) 345; 5 Jon Balmforth (Ramsdale Park) 340; 6 Phil Broadley (Deer Park) 330; 7 Matt Hazell (Malton & Norton) 320; 8 Lee Myers (Tynemouth) 315; 9 Stuart Wilson (Ardeer) 230.