Leona Shoots the Lights out Leona Maguire, a Professional for Barely 10 Months, Has Set the Omega Dubai Moonlight Classic Alight
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ROUND 2 THURSDAY MAY 2, 2019 Leona shoots the lights out Leona Maguire, a professional for barely 10 months, has set the Omega Dubai Moonlight Classic alight. By Kent Gray – Editor, Golf Digest Middle East FROM AMATEUR SUPERSTARDOM to the summit of the Omega Dubai Moonlight Classic leaderboard. Welcome to the astronomical talent that is Leona Maguire. In just her 17th round as a Ladies European Tour player, the former world amateur No.1 carded a sizzling eight-under- par 64 on Wednesday for the Faldo course record and a two- stroke lead over Germany’s Olivia Cowan after the opening round of the 54-hole Pro-Am. The 24-year-old Irishwoman banished any fears that playing under floodlights might be a disadvantage in pro golf’s first day-night event with a flurry of nine birdies. It could have been even better save for a bogey on the par-4 14th but that was a mere blip as Maguire continued her meteoric rise under the Faldo’s equally bright LED lights. Turn to page 2 Kemp eyes the Night Picture Round-Up Well-placed Australian Sarah Kemp is in the All the glitz and glamour from the players’ dark about playing under lights. PAGE 3 welcome party at JA The Resort. PAGE 5 Six to Watch Round 2 Tee Times EMIRATES GOLF Your guide to the big names chasing the famed Plan your viewing pleasure with the groups SEAMASTER AQUA TERRA CLUB DUBAI MASTER CHRONOMETER Dallah trophy at Emirates Golf Club. PAGE 4 and tee times for round 2. PAGE 6 1 – 3 MAY, 2019 PATRON & OFFICIAL PUBLISHER More information available at OMEGA Middle East, Emirates Towers, Dubai, UAE. Tel: +971 4 3300455 @OmegaGolfDubai #ODMC2019 2 NEWS Omega Dubai Moonlight Classic May 1-3, 2019 Faldo course, Emirates Golf Club 56 Professionals 168 Amateurs Format: 54-hole Pro-Am (No cut) Continued from cover page... Horan when she relinquished her “I adjusted quite quickly [to the After spending a record 135 weeks at the summit amateur status. lights], actually. It was a lot better Each pro will be grouped with of the World Amateur Golf Rankings, Maguire turned “I guess I just need to play at than I thought. The lights went on three amateurs for a 36-hole professional on June 5 last year. She entered the paid 3 o’clock and then in darkness… when we were on 13 and 13, 14 were “tour scramble” competition. ranks with a pro world ranking of 614 but has soared that’s the way to go for me,” said a little tricky. But I played the last The 56-professionals will a staggering 377 places to No.237 in the intervening 10 Maguire whose career-best round four holes really nicely. It seems like then play the final round and a bit months. was a 62 playing collegiate golf for night golf suits me.” on their own. Followers of the LET might not have seen the Duke University. Cowan, meanwhile, rattled off 64 coming after last week’s Lalla Meryem Cup in “I had no idea I was on track seven birdies in her opening round Wednesday, May 1: Morocco where Maguire stuttered to a share of 46th for something like that [the course but dropped a late shot en-route Pro-Am – 8.30am and 3pm place with rounds of 76-71-79-74. But don’t be fooled. record 64. I was just trying to hit to her still impressive 66. A shot shotguns - COMPLETED Earlier in April the twin – her sister Lisa shot a three as many greens and fairways as I further back of The JA The Resort- Thursday, May 2: over 75 here yesterday – claimed her maiden pro title could. I struggled with my irons in sponsored 22-year-old is Spaniard Pro-Am – 8.30am and 3pm and a $22,500 payday with it at the Windsor Golf Morocco and talked about it with Nuria Iturrios who signed for a 67 to shotguns Classic on the Symetra Tour, the feeder to the LPGA. my coach back at home and we show no hint of any hangover from Friday, May 3: It seems her stocks are only going in, ahem, One obviously found something that was her victory in Rabat last week. One tee start – 10.35am Direction: Maguire signed with the golf management working pretty well today.” German Karolin Lampert was company part-owned by boy-band heartthrob Niall Indeed. Maguire nearly holed-in- the star of the morning shotgun, establishing the course record with a bogey-free 68 courtesy of a I guess I just conservative game plan that looked sage until Maguire got into her stride. need to play at 3 “I was just making sure I had good numbers, especially on the par o’clock and then fives, because I wasn’t sure if I could Unlimited golf & beach get there in two, so I laid up,” said in darkness…” Lampert. “I didn’t make any mistakes. THIS SUMMER LEONA MAGUIRE I missed one green and made up and – down but didn’t hole too many putts. Swing into a smooth golfing summer from May 1st to I’m really happy though because the th September 30 while the family enjoys the beach. Benefits one on the 8th - “I hit a 7-iron and it greens are playing quite tough. I think include 25% off food & beverage, gym access and more! looked in all the way and was literally if you drive it well then you get a lot this far short [roughly two inches] – of opportunities. It gives you a lot of SUMMER SWING PACKAGE 7 days unlimited golf | AED 3,700* per person and converted all of her “close range chances if you hit good shots.” to tap-in” birdie attempts before Just ask Maguire who was a major MIDWEEK SUMMER SWING PACKAGE rolling in a 25-footer on 18 to put an contributor to the 28 pros who 5 days a week (weekdays) | AED 2,495* per person exclamation mark on her round. played in the afternoon/evening So what happened on 14? “I hit shotgun returning a combined For more information or bookings, please call 04 814 5023/5058 it through the fairway and got a stroke average of 72.03, more than or email [email protected] flyer out the back. That was when a shot better than the morning the lights were coming on and I starters. Imagine what Maguire misjudged the chip. might do in broad daylight. ◼ Editor-in-Chief Editor Chief Commercial General Manager Obaid Humaid Kent Gray Officer – Production Al Tayer Art Director Anthony Milne S. Sunil Kumar Group Editor and Clarkwin Cruz Publisher Production Manager Managing Partner Images David Burke R. Murali Krishnan Ian Fairservice Tristan Jones, LET, Senior Projects Assistant Editorial Director Matt Burton Manager – Connect Production Manager Gina Johnson Ingrid Valles Po Binu Purandaran Head Office: Media One Tower, PO Box 2331, Dubai, UAE; Tel +971 4 427 3000; Fax +971 4 428 2270 Dubai Media City: Office 508, 5th Floor, Building 8, Dubai, UAE; Tel +971 4 390 3550; Fax +971 4 390 4845 *Rates are subject to change and include 7% municipality fees Abu Dhabi: and 5% VAT where applicable. Terms & Conditions Apply. PO Box 43072, UAE; Tel +971 2 657 3493 London: Acre House, 11/15 William Road, London NW1 3ER, UK; E-mail: [email protected] Printed by Al Ghurair Printing Press 3 Kemp eyes the night Five strokes off the lead, Australian Sarah Kemp is looking forward to her turn under the Faldo’s lights on moving day cum part of her second round under get to play in a cart. I enjoyed it a lot.” “It’s great. making some solid pars. I made a night at the Omega Dubai lights tonight. So too did she savour the set-up The fairways bogey on the 2nd and had a good “I’ve never played in the dark of the Faldo layout. are perfect stretch and then from there, I Moonlight Classic. before and my eyes aren’t that great. “It’s great. The fairways are birdied four or five holes. I started and the I have some glasses and I’m hoping perfect and the greens are rolling to hit it a little closer and holed the ARAH KEMP’S self-deprecating that no-one’s going to take any nicely. I had fantastic partners that greens are putts. That kick-started the round humour matched the quality photos of me in my glasses,” Kemp kept me going all day. rolling and I finished with three-under, so S of her golf on the opening said, only half-pie jokingly. “I got off to a slow start and was nicely.” it was nice and solid.” ◼ day of the Omega Dubai Moonlight “I might have to take them out. It Classic. If she can keep the hits might be interesting, but it’s going and giggles going, a long overdue to be fun. I’ve never done it before.” Ladies European Tour title could What Kemp is sure about is well be hers. the merit of this week’s new look But to achieve her maiden win - Pro-Am format. Her Falcon II team Sheikh Zayed Road this is the 33-year-old Australian’s for the opening 36-holes of the 139th start on tour - Kemp knows 54-hole event includes former R&A Festival Plaza Mall/ she’s going to have to overcome chief executive and now Falcon Golf IKEA something she’s never before faced chairman Peter Dawson and Richard Energy Metro Station The Nook in a LET career spanning back to Rayment, a player agent who has Hillside Residences 2006 – playing under floodlights.