Golf Care Matchplay Finale Gets Underway In Dubai

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The Golf Care Matchplay Championship, the UK’s biggest amateur golf event, will crown new winners this week as competitors from across the UK and Ireland gather at the world-renowned Els Club in Dubai Sports City, for the third successive year.

The three-day Grand Final showdown is underway and scores have been surprisingly low in the first round, with the players revelling in the heat of the Dubai desert.

After entering the tournament for just £30, a diverse array of amateur players are staking their claim for three titles in the Men’s Pairs, Mixed Pairs and Men’s Singles events. They have all earned their place in the emirate by virtue of their success in several knockout qualifying rounds and a Regional Final last month at European Tour venue, The Marriott Forest of Arden in England.

With TV cameras filming for a Sky Sports production next month, the event is offering some of the UK’s most avid golfers the ultimate opportunity to shine in front of a TV audience, whilst relaxing off the course at the luxurious 5-star JW Marriott Marquis Dubai, the world’s tallest dedicated hotel.

“We’re delighted to be back in Dubai. The hospitality at The Els Club and the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel is truly first-class, I can’t think of anywhere better to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the event. The course is looking immaculate and all the players have praised the condition of it. Chris Brown, Director of Golf, and all his team have done a spectacular job of hosting us for the last three years,” noted John Woosey, Managing Director.

“Off the course, Dubai has a whole host of leisure amenities. The players and their families have been taking advantage of away from the course and the hotel is proving a popular place to unwind. With two days of competition remaining, we’re excited to see how it all pans out.”

Maartens van Rensburg, a native of South Africa, who is a four-handicap at Pyrford Golf Club in Surrey, scored 32 points to take a narrow one-shot lead over defending champion, Paul Llewellyn, in the Men’s Singles event. “It’s been great so far. I’ve played well today and my wife, who is over here with me, is relaxing by the pool back at the hotel – so everybody’s happy! I’m looking forward to the next couple of days.”

In the Men’s Pairs final, Robert Leonard and Kevin Mannering from Knotty Hill Golf Club in Co. Durham scored an impressive 42 points in the better-ball stableford format. They have a one shot lead over returning 2012 finalists, Martin Firth and Andrew Taylor from Tytherington Golf Club in Macclesfield, thanks to a nett eagle by five-handicap Kevin at the par-4 12th hole.

In the Mixed Pairs, Martin Pyke and Anne Wheble from Dartford Golf Club are tied at the top of the leaderboard with husband and wife pairing of David and Tracey Morris from Woburn Golf Club.  Scratch golfer David, made his lone birdie of the day on the par-4 7th, with Tracey doing most of the damage on the front-nine, thanks to three points on both the 2nd and 3rd holes.

To see the live scoring and to find out more information on the Golf Care Matchplay Championship or to enter the 2012/13 championship, visit www.matchplaychampionship.co.uk.  

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