By Gareth James
Joe Jones – an 18-year-old Welsh international and member of Langland Bay Golf Club – clinched victory at the 54-hole Abu Dhabi Golf Club Men’s Open over the National Course.
Jones began the final day of the tournament with a two-shot lead and fired a final round of 68, finishing at six under par with a total score of 210.
He recorded an eagle three on the second hole and a birdie on the eighth hole, ending the front nine on 33 to maintain his lead.
He made another birdie on the 11th but a bogey on the 14th, which he followed up with a final birdie on the last, extended his winning margin to three shots.
Over the course of the three-day event, Jones made a total of 13 birdies and an eagle, scoring rounds of 72, 70, and 68.
Jake Wiltshire from the AD City GC secured second place, three shots behind Jones, with a final round score of 69.
Jones’ victory came after he also won the Qatar Open Amateur Championship earlier this month at Doha Golf Club, where he managed a hole in 1 on the 17th.
That victory has given him qualification for the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in the autumn.
Welsh International Joe Jones claims Abu Dhabi Golf Club Men’s Open @ADGolfClub #GolfinUAE @gulf_newshttps://t.co/vGkrBAxuoT
— Gulf News Sport (@GulfNewsSport) March 19, 2023