iPhone | iPad
Android
Huawei
The knockout king joined an elite group of fighters on that mark with only Charles Oliveira (20), Jim Miller (18) and Donald Cerrone (16) having scored more finishes
KT APPDOWNLOAD
Dubai-based Adrian Meronk heaps praise on World Amateur Team Championships
Event was the final amateur tournament that the Pole played in 2016 before he turned professional and became a three-time winner on the DP World Tour
Dubai based Adrian Meronk in action on the National Course at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. - Supplied photo
The stars of the future at this month’s World Amateur Team Championships (WATC) will be hoping to use the prestigious amateur event as a springboard to success, just as Adrian Meronk did before becoming a three-time winner on the DP World Tour.
The men’s Eisenhower Trophy runs from October 18-21 with the women in action from October 25-28 at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club’s National Course.
Meronk played in the Eisenhower Trophy on three occasions, with the last of those coming in 2016 where he carded three rounds in the ’60s to finish in a share of third in the individual competition, while also leading the Polish team to a historic eighth place finish in the team competition – the country’s first, and only, top ten in the biennial event.
“The Eisenhower Trophy was my favourite amateur tournament, I would always look forward to competing. But it was only every two years, so it was a long wait between editions,” said the Pole, who is now based in Dubai.
“It was definitely the highlight of my amateur career. I usually played very well, and it was actually the final amateur tournament I played in 2016 before turning professional.
“It’s great to see the tournament head to the Middle East for the first time. I’m sure it’s going to be a fantastic event.”
Three years after that historic outing in Mexico, Meronk became the first player from Poland to win on a major golf tour with his triumph at the Open de Portugal @ Morgado Golf Resort in 2019, helping him graduate from the Challenge Tour and become the first Polish player to earn full DP World Tour playing privileges.
Fast forward four years, the 30-year-old is now a three-time winner on the DP World Tour, picking up the Horizon Irish Open, ISPS Handa Australian Open and the DS Automobiles Italian Open between July 2022 and May of this year and currently sits fourth on the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai Rankings and 52nd on the Official World Golf Ranking.
Despite the glitz and glamour that comes with being Poland’s first-ever DP World Tour winner, Meronk admits he misses the camaraderie that he and his teammates used to have when playing the Eisenhower Trophy.
“My advice to those competing is to just go out there and enjoy yourself with your teammates,” he said.
“It’s such a cool event to be involved with; you have the individual and team competition, a big opening gala with teams from across the world carrying their flags. I miss that team environment, especially now I am out on Tour playing on my own.
“I obviously have my team around me but not a team that I compete with and against like I did back then, those memories are very sweet,” he added.
ALSO READ
“It’s also a great track to play this month’s tournament. Abu Dhabi Golf Club demands precise shots and the greens are very fast and firm, so I’m sure they will prepare it well and offer the next generation of talent a firm but fair test.”
The World Amateur Team Championships is hosted by the Emirates Golf Federation in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and their Destination Partner, the Department of Culture and Tourism.
More news from Sports
Dual Olympic gold medalist stays with his plan to overwhelm the Greek-born local favourite in the 11th round
The 34-year-old American seeks his sixth career major crown next week at Valhalla
Spinner Varun Chakravarthy stars as the Knight Riders booked the coveted spot with am18-run win over the former five-time champions in a rain-reduced match at Eden Gardens
Star India and Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter on cusp completing a century of centuries in professional cricket
The Ukrainian is regarded as the greatest ever amateur boxer having compiled an incredible 396-1 record and won consecutive golds at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics
Burnley join Sheffield United in making an instant return to the Championship after 2-1 loss at Tottenham as Luton on the brink
The clay-court icon said he is still not clear about playing at Roaldn Garros will do his best to get there over the coming weeks