Arab golfers gaining global momentum after encouraging International Series Egypt

CAIRO: The future looks bright for golf in the Arab world after three players from the region finished in the top 40 of the International Series Egypt, as a strong contingent of 17 players from nine different countries teed off at the flagship Asian Tour event.

Andy Ogletree of the US secured his maiden title in the professional game on Sunday, winning the $1.5 million event at Madinaty Golf Club in Cairo. He fired an eight-under-par 62 to finish with a total of 23 under, and won by four shots from Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger, who returned a 63.

Korean Jeunghun Wang (64) and American Sihwan Kim (65) tied for third, seven behind the winner. The result saw Kim return to the top of the Asian Tour Order of Merit list.

And it was an encouraging showing for the best of the Arab golfers.

Jordan’s Shergo Kurdi was highest placed of the regional representation in Cairo on T27 with a seven-under total thanks to three superb under par rounds and a level par second round. That put the 19-year-old, who featured in the LIV Golf Invitational series last season, one ahead of amateur Moroccan El Mehdi Fakori (T33) with Ayoub Lguirati (T37) a shot further back.

Adam Bresnu, another promising Moroccan amateur, gained invaluable experience by playing all four days, while Saudi Arabia’s Othman Almulla, Faisal Salhab and Saud Al-Sharif were in the field along with players from Oman, Lebanon, Tunisia, Bahrain and Qatar in a strong regional showing.

Almulla, Saudi Arabia’s first-ever professional golfer, is seen as a leading light and an inspiration by many younger members of the current crop, for his efforts in recent years. “It is a unique situation, we have all known each other a long time through junior golf and amateur golf, and now