Golf: Shepherd eyes Dubai Creek Open title defence

Dubai - Shepherd will have his work cut out competing against a formidable field

Jake Shepherd believes fond memories of his dramatic win last year will serve him well when he returns to defend his title at the Dubai Creek Open, starting on September 5.
The 25-year-old Englishman enjoyed his moment in the sun when he defeated India's Rayhan Thomas and Austria's Florian Praegant in a three-way playoff at the iconic Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club for his second victory on the Mena Golf Tour he joined in 2011.
"Even though I haven't played a lot this season, I feel like my game is in good shape technically. It's a just question of sharpening everything up like shaping the ball and distance control.
"I have really good memories from the Creek last year and it would be great to give myself another chance at winning come Wednesday afternoon," said Shepherd, who topped the tour's Order of Merit in 2011.
"I really feel like my game is in good shape and it's a just question of everything clicking at the right time, but I am trying not to think too much about the week and will take things as they come," said Shepherd, who topped the tour's Order of Merit in 2011.
Shepherd will have his work cut out competing against a formidable field that includes the likes of his fellow Englishmen Zane Scotland, Lee Corfield and Luke Joy - all multiple winners of the tour - and Danny Poulter, brother of Ryder Cup hero Ian, who will be making his first appearance on the tour.
The entries for the event, which can accommodate a maximum of 120 golfers, once again wear a global look with golfers from 23 countries represented in the field. The English players top the chart with 37 entries, followed by Sweden (10) and South Africa (eight).
Of the 49 events played so far on the Mena Golf Tour since its inception in 2011, the English players have enjoyed the lion's share of success, winning 29 times, thanks to Scotland who alone accounts for a record 11 titles.
The fifth edition of the tournament has also attracted the celebrated Moroccan trio of Ahmed Marjane, the first Arab winner on the tour, Faycal Serghini and Younes El Hassani, and UAE's Ahmed Al Musharrekh, who returns to the tour after successfully completing the national service for young Emiratis.
Fresh off winning the Scottish Boys' Open Stroke Play title in July, UAE's number one amateur Rayhan Thomas, who is supported by the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation, will spearhead the amateur division which has attracted multiple entries from Morocco, Oman and Saudi Arabia, adding a distinct Arab flavour to the event.
A two-time runner-up on the Mena Golf Tour, Thomas, 16, will be aiming to go the full distance this time around and become the first amateur to win a Mena Golf Tour event. Playing on his home-course could well work to his advantage.
Mohamed Juma Buamaim, chairman of the Mena Golf Tour, said: "We are absolutely delighted with the overwhelming response to the Dubai Creek Open. The players have been key drivers behind the success for our tour and we look forward to welcoming them this week.
"It's great to see many new players sign for the event which is an apt reflection on the growing popularity of the tour
"We are grateful to the Dubai Creek management for their enthusiastic support to the tour and appreciate all the hard work they have put in preparing the course which, as always, is in great condition."
An initiative of the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation, the Mena Golf Tour was created in 2011 with the aim of developing golf in the region. It is affiliated to R&A, the worldwide golf governing body based in the home of golf, St Andrews, and the Arab Golf Federation and enjoys the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) status.
Multiple European Tour starts, including the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, the Hassan II Trophy and the Maybank Championship Malaysia in addition to full playing privileges on the Sunshine Tour and exemptions into the Final Stage of the Asian Tour Q-School for the leading three professionals are some of the added incentives for the Mena Golf Tour members.
 
Order of Merit standings:
Professionals:
1. Zane Scotland (England) $25,734 (Dh94,500)
2. Andrew Marshall (England) $16,172
3. Antonio Costa (Chile) $15,296 
4. Craig Hinton (England) $13,896 
5. Wolmer Murillo (Venezuela) #11,400 
6. David Law (Scotland) $9,000 
7. Miles Tunnicliff (England) $8,280 
8. Riekus Nortje (South Africa) $7,974 
9. Luke Joy (England) $7,888 
10. Fredrik Lindblom (Sweden) $7,799 
Amateurs:
1. Rayhan Thomas (India) 133 points 
2. Benjamin David (England) 75 
3. Ben Alexander (Scotland) 53 
4. Yassine Touhami (Morocco) 52 
5. Darin De Smidt (South Africa) 50