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Allan, Thomas eye amateurs title

Led by James Allan and Rayhan Thomas, a host of promising amateurs will be aiming to end the season on a high when they compete in the Tour Championship at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club from Monday.
Presented by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the season-finale offers the 15 leading amateurs on the Order of Merit, who will join top 40 professionals in the field, one last chance this season to realise their dream of becoming the first amateur to win on the Mena Golf Tour.
They will hope to draw inspiration from the feat of young Thriston Lawrence, who eclipsed a top-quality field headlined by 2016 European Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke at the recent Ras Al Khaimah Classic to take the title by four shots.
In the process, the former number one South African amateur became the youngest player, aged 18 years, 11 months and one day, to win a Mena Golf Tour event, his achievement highlighting the exciting youngsters coming through the ranks on the tour in a sign of the times in an ever-changing world.
There is plenty to suggest the floodgates are about to open as waiting in the wings are a number of players, who have been knocking on the door to make a significant breakthrough.
England's Allan, 21, and India's Rayhan Thomas, 15, both had their chances to win a Mena Golf Tour event this season, but agonisingly slipped on the finishing line.
Allan, who is leading the Order of Merit race in the amateur division, lost to his compatriot Gary King at the Ascorp Golf Citizen Abu Dhabi Open in a playoff while Thomas, bowed out in similar fashion in a three-way tie at the Dubai Creek Open.