OMEGA Sponsors Emirates Amateur Open 2012

Dubai, 22nd February 2012 - The 23^rd edition of the Emirates Amateur Open will tee off tomorrow at Emirates Golf Club and welcomes Omega on board as title sponsor. It is fitting that Omega now sponsor the Dubai Ladies Masters, Dubai Desert Classic and the largest Amateur Open in the region with 141 competitors.  This is the second time in the event's 23 year history that it has been played over 54 holes. All competitors will play their opening round over the Faldo course and their second round on the Majlis course, home to the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters. The top 65 and ties will play their final round on the Majlis for the Championship title. Those not making the cut will play a separate 18 hole event on the Faldo course.

The Championship is now established as a counting event towards the World Amateur Golf Ranking Order of Merit for 2012 and as always amateurs from all over the globe have signed up to compete in this prestigious event. The list includes players from 16 different countries. Past winners include Gary Wolstenholme (1995), Ryder Cup star Peter Hanson who won the Amateur championship in 1997 and Michael Hoey (2000) are both regular Dubai Desert Classic top performers.

The 141 amateurs competing this weekend will follow in the footsteps of legends such as Tiger Woods, Tom Watson, Ernie Els, Seve Ballesteros, Rory McIlroy, John Daly, Annika Sorenstam and most recently the 2012 Omega Dubai Desert Classic winner Rafael Cabrera-Bello. Strong contenders include Scott Nightingale (Worthing Golf club) who triumphed in 2007 and took runners-up position in 2011.  Other home favourites include Ahmed Al Musharrekh (Dubai Creek), Michael Harradine (Emirates Golf Club) and Daniel Hendry (Emirates Golf Club). Last years winner Joel Neale will not defend his title has he has now turned professional.

The Championship will get under way at 7.00am on Thursday morning on the Faldo course with the concluding 36-holes over the Majlis on Friday and Saturday.  In total 56 golf clubs are represented including Calcutta Golf Club (India), Shadow Hawk Golf Club (USA) and the home of golf itself, St Andrews (UK).