LUKE Joy was last night crowned champion of the 10th edition of the King Hamad Trophy golf championship.
The Briton took to the final round on The Royal Golf Club’s 18-hole Montgomerie course as joint-leader with countryman Joshua White after the first two rounds of play. But after a strong final day that saw him hit a four-under-par 68, the European Tour and Mena Tour ace triumphed as White folded under the pressure with a one-over-par 73.
Joy’s final round scorecard featured five birdies, four of which were on the back nine, and one bogey. He won the 54-hole tournament with a 15-under-par total of 201, five shots clear of White.
White’s struggles on the last day included four bogeys and just two birdies – a disappointing finish after topping the leaderboard on days one and two. His final score was 10-under 206. With his fine victory, Joy has lifted the prestigious King Hamad Trophy and takes home with him a grand prize of $8,500.
White pocketed BD5,200 as the runner-up.
Classified behind the leading pair was another British golfer in Josh Oddy.
Enough
He carded a seven-under 65 for the best score of day three, but it was not enough to get him in the top two. Oddy’s final round scorecard included seven birdies, and he finished the tournament with a nine-under-par 207.
Louis Campbell was ranked fourth with a seven-under 209 total; while defending champion Andrew Marshall finished tied with two others namely Ben Amor and Karim El Hali. Hey had six-under-par 210 totals.
El Hali was the leading amateur in the 45-strong field that played on the final day. He was also one of just two non-professionals. The other was Jamie Elson, who finished 10th overall with a three-under 213.
Ranked between El Hali and Elson were Yassine Touhami and Daniel Owen, who were ranked tied-eighth with five-under-par 211 totals.
The King Hamad Trophy was a strokeplay championship that featured a total of 86 players who teed off on Thursday. A cut was implemented after day two and only the 45 players from yesterday who made it. After three days of play, the field holed a total of two eagles, 538 birdies, 2,029 pars, 959 bogeys and 229 double bogeys.