• Home
• /
• Local Sports

Luke Joy sets sights on back-to-back titles

The Englishman defeated Kiwi Trevor Marshall on the second play-off hole at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club last Wednesday to emerge triumphant from his very first appearance on the regional circuit.

Mohamed Juma Buamaim is flanked by Peter Badawy (left); James Shippey and Luke Joy (right), the winner of last week’s Dubai Creek Open. — Supplied photo

Dubai: Luke Joy hopes to take his winning momentum from last week’s Dubai Creek Open into the Shaikh Maktoum Dubai Open on Monday as he eyes back-to-back Mena Golf Tour victories.

The Englishman defeated Kiwi Trevor Marshall on the second play-off hole at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club last Wednesday to emerge triumphant from his very first appearance on the regional circuit.

His all-round game is obviously in good nick then ahead of the fourth stop of nine on the Tour schedule and the in-form professional is understandably keen to register a second success in as many weeks at Al Badia Golf Club come Wednesday afternoon.

“Like any golf tournament you go into, you don’t really want to come second,” Joy said. “I had a fantastic confidence booster last week and I had a great week immediately before that up in Scotland for the first stage of the European Tour (Qualifying) School.

“I’m on a little bit of a run at the moment, which – especially in this sport – you have to grasp with both hands and embrace.

“This game can throw horrible, little curve balls at you, but — when you finally start hitting the ball as if it’s on a frozen rope – you’ve just got to run with it. It would be fantastic if it happens again this week.

“I’m going to go in with the same attitude as I had last week though. I’ll play my golf and — if the number is right at the end of the week — then I’ve done my job.

“I’ve simply got to maintain that right mentality, keep plugging away and see what I can do. I’m looking forward to another challenge on another golf course because they’re fantastic over here and set up for tournament golf.

“I’m really looking forward to the week and cracking on and seeing if I can finish on top again, which would be brilliant.”

Joy’s strokeplay has undoubtedly acclimatised well to the fairways, greens and course conditions in the emirate, even if the player himself is still getting used to the climate.

“It’s rather hot here for an Englishman so I look like a sweaty mess when I’m on the golf course, although the air conditioning is quite pleasant in the clubhouse,” he admitted.

“But, it’s been a fantastic start to my time in the Middle East. I’m really looking forward to the rest of the season. “I’ve got another five or six events here. It’s a tremendous opportunity for me and I’m really enjoying my time here.”

Joy faces some stiff competition in his bid to do the double nonetheless this week, with the past three Order of Merit (OOM) champions (Stephen Dodd, Jack Shepherd and Zane Scotland), current OOM leader Joshua White and MGT newcomer Matthew Fitzpatrick all among the 126-strong field for the $50,000 event.