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Khaleej Times
20-04-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
'I still can't believe that', says Paratore after sealing back-to-back HotelPlanner Tour wins
'I still can't believe it!' said an elated Renato Paratore after clinching his second consecutive HotelPlanner Tour title in the UAE, capping off a sensational fortnight with a four-under-par 66 to win the Abu Dhabi Challenge in Al Ain. The Italian, who lifted the UAE Challenge trophy just a week earlier, once again showed nerves of steel with birdies on two of his last four holes—finishing at 17 under par and edging out Scotsman David Law and Spain's Sebastian Garcia by a single stroke. Law had set a fierce clubhouse target with a blistering nine-under 61, but Paratore held firm under pressure. Entering the final round one shot off the lead, Paratore picked up shots on the fifth and seventh holes to gain early momentum. Despite a couple of back-nine bogeys, the 28-year-old bounced back with clutch birdies—including a decisive one at the par-five 18th after reaching the green in two. 'I felt confident coming into today because I won last week,' Paratore said. 'But I knew it was going to be tough with so many in contention. I'm really proud of how I handled it.' Garcia and Law shared second place at 16 under, while American Davis Bryant finished third at 15 under. A quartet of players, including Frenchman Robin Siegrist and Italy's Stefano Mazzoli, tied for fifth at 14 under. Paratore's double triumph rockets him to second in the Road to Mallorca Rankings, further fueled by support from the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Arena, Al Laith, and eGolf Megastore.
Khaleej Times
19-04-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Dubai's Porteous steps into the spotlight as title defense builds to a thrilling climax
Dubai resident Garrick Porteous is just 18 holes away from a remarkable title defence after seizing the third-round lead at the Abu Dhabi Challenge with a composed four-under-par 66 at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club. Chasing Porteous closely is Italian Renato Paratore at 13 under, following a five-under 65. Davis Bryant (USA), Sebastian Garcia (Spain), and Robin Sciot-Siegrist (France) are all two shots back at 12 under, with a tightly packed leaderboard promising fireworks in the final round. The 35-year-old, who now calls Dubai home, has been making the most of his local knowledge and comfort in the UAE, navigating the firm greens and fiery fairways to sit one stroke clear at 14 under par heading into Sunday's final round. 'I started off poorly. I was a couple over through five and then managed a few birdies to get one under through nine and then played well on the back,' said Porteous, who stepped back from full-time professional golf last year but clearly still has the firepower to compete at the top. His back nine included three key birdies—none more clutch than the one at the 18th, which nudged him ahead of Paratore and set up a thrilling finale in the Garden City. 'I was just trying to hit greens. The greens are a lot firmer this year and releasing out a lot. If you miss the fairway you've got to try and find the putting surface," Porteous added. 'I've just had one swing thought all week and I got away from that a bit at the start. Obviously, the greens are pure so if you start rolling it well you've got a good chance of it going in.' Backed By Love Last year, Porteous won this very event with a dazzling 24 under par. Now, with his wife joining him on the bag this weekend, he's looking to keep the vibe relaxed while chasing another big win on home soil. 'I am excited. I've got my wife on my bag, she came up last night so it's still a relaxed atmosphere and we are having fun on the course,' he said 'There are so many good guys right behind me. The course sets up for a lot of birdies so if I can create the birdies then people have got to overtake me.' As the leading Dubai-based contender, Porteous is carrying the local hopes into Sunday, with support pouring in from UAE golf fans and sponsors including Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Arena, Al Laith, and eGolf Megastore. Spectators can enjoy the final-round action for free, with world-class competition unfolding in one of the UAE's most scenic golfing settings. Will Porteous go back-to-back in Abu Dhabi and bring home another trophy to Dubai? Sunday promises a dramatic answer.
Khaleej Times
17-04-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Garcia targets fast Friday start after grabbing opening round lead in Abu Dhabi Challenge
Sebastian Garcia will look to maintain his aggressive approach in Friday's second round of the Abu Dhabi Challenge after a sparkling, bogey-free 63 gave him the outright lead at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club. The Spaniard, currently 85th in the Road to Mallorca Rankings, fired a seven-under-par opening round to lead by a single stroke over a chasing pack of four players on six-under: Denmark's Victor Sidal Svendsen, Germany's Freddy Schott, France's Robin Sciot-Siegrist, and fellow Spaniard Albert Boneta. Garcia, 36, made a statement early with a birdie on the first and then eagled the driveable par-four fourth. Three more birdies followed around the turn before a steady run of pars and a final birdie on 16 capped an impressive round in the trickier afternoon conditions. 'It will be perfect because there will be no wind and a little fire will be taken out of the course. I won't change anything,' he said. 'This course, you need to be aggressive from the tee and second shots.' Hot on his heels at six under are Dane Victor Sidal Svendsen, German Freddy Schott, France's Robin Sciot-Siegrist and fellow Spaniard Albert Boneta. A further shot back on five under sit Scotland's Daniel Young, Dutchman Daan Huizing, France's Felix Mory and American Chase Hanna. A group of players at four under, including Sweden's Albin Bergstrom and Thailand's Denwit David Boriboonsub, remain well in contention. Defending champion Garrick Porteous made an encouraging return with a three-under 67, despite having stepped back from full-time professional golf. 'If someone told me I was going to shoot three under today, I would have taken it straight away,' said Porteous. 'I felt very relaxed out there, so we'll see how tomorrow goes. I've just got to keep on putting birdies on the scorecard around this place – you never know what can happen.' UAE's Ahmad Skaik, fresh off becoming the first Emirati to make a cut in a European Tour group event last week, signed for an even-par 70 to keep himself in the mix. 'I was hitting the ball pretty well out there,' said Skaik. 'It was pretty tough, a difficult back nine as it was very windy. If you get the wrong yardage on a pin out here, the ball just lands and rolls because it's so firm. It was a challenging back nine, so I'll take level par. I wanted better, but I've put myself in a decent position again.' Round two promises plenty of movement on the leaderboard as players look to position themselves for the weekend. Spectators can attend for free, with support from Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Arena, Al Laith, and eGolf Megastore helping to deliver another high-quality event on the HotelPlanner Tour.
Khaleej Times
10-04-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Ritchie and Van Veen set the pace at UAE Challenge with opening 64s
e pristine morning conditions at Al Zorah Golf & Yacht Club, carding his own 64 to grab an early share of the lead. The duo hold a slender one-shot advantage over England's George Bloor and France's Romaine Wattel, both sitting at seven-under-par. A crowded chasing pack at six-under includes Scotland's Euan Walker and David Law, India's Saptak Talwar, and Peru's Julian Perico. Also lurking close behind are England's Chris Paisley and France's Oihan Guillamoundeguy - part of a nine-way tie at five-under-par. Among the homegrown talent, UAE-based Spaniard Adri Arnaus led the charge with a four-under 68, surging with three birdies in his final three holes. Joshua Grenville-Wood finished two strokes behind, while top Emirati amateur Ahmad Skaik impressed with a gritty back nine of 33 to finish at one-over. Hot on his heels was 18-year-old Rayan Ahmed, just a shot further back. Reflecting on his round, Ritchie said: 'I've been playing really well lately, and the game's been in a great place. I've just needed to stay out of my own head and let the golf happen. Today, I did that.' Ritchie's only blemish came at the seventh, but a textbook finish on the ninth—his last—left him smiling. 'I hit a smooth nine-iron to about 12 feet and drained it. That was the cherry on top.' Van Veen, starting on the 10th, caught fire early, notching three birdies in his first five holes and four straight from the 18th to the 3rd. 'I'd seen my putting coach Jamie before the event, and I'm rolling it great. I holed a nice one on three from about 15–18 feet, and after that, the confidence just carried me.' The UAE Challenge kicks off a two-week Tour swing through the Emirates, followed by next week's Abu Dhabi Challenge at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club (April 17–20). These events are a cornerstone of the Emirates Golf Federation's long-term strategy with the DP World Tour, aiming to elevate the region as a breeding ground for elite-level golf and support emerging local players. Ritchie, reflecting on the broader impact, added: 'It's amazing to see the game growing here. These events opened doors for players like me in South Africa a few years ago, and now they're opening those same doors for young talent in the UAE.' The UAE Challenge is powered by support from Arena, Al Laith, and eGolf Megastore, with additional sponsors like the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the Department of Culture and Tourism joining for the second event. Golf fans can catch the action live and free throughout both tournaments. The second round of the UAE Challenge begins at 6:30 am on Friday, with Ritchie teeing off at 7:20 am and Van Veen at 12:20 pm. The HotelPlanner Tour is a professional golf tour that forms part of the European Challenge Tour, which is essentially the second-tier men's professional golf tour in Europe—just below the DP World Tour.
