Egypt: Ben Parker triumphs with a total -21
Red Sea Ain Sokhna Classic 2017
With an outstanding performance Englishman Ben Parker secured himself the victory at the Red Sea Ain Sokhna Classic 2017. On the par-72-course of the Sokhna Golf Club in Egypt the 29-year-old played three rounds of 65 in a row and prevailed with 21 under par. In the end Parker had a three-stroke-advantage to second-ranked Clemens Prader from Austria (66, 70, 62) who set a new course record on the final day.
Ain Sokhna/Egypt – “The whole course but especially the greens are amazing. They’re definitely on European-Tour-level!“ Tournament-winner Ben Parker was amazed by the course at the Red Sea, where he could use the conditions and also prove his skills. Only two bogeys were noted on Parker’s scorecards but also 21 birdies and an eagle. “My drives and the all shots with the wedge on the first two days were really good and landed very close to the hole. By that, the putting wasn’t that necessary.” However, it was on the final round: “I wasn’t able to place the ball as precisely as the days before but then my putts were pretty good”, Parker said.
With a two-stroke advantage to German Maximilian Laier, Parker started into the last round of the event. But soon Austrian Clemens Prader, who had already scored eight birdies after twelve holes, caught up the deficit up to one shot. “When I saw that Clemens played that well it really motivated me to give my very best”, Parker said. Which he did: The man from Southpork/Britain scored birdies on hole 12, 13, 14 and 15 which finally made him achieve another 65. It was enough for him to successfully keep Prader behind, but the Austrian finished the day with a 62 – a new course record in Ain Sokhna.
With his victory at the second of two Pro Golf Tour tournaments in Egypt Ben Parker takes over the lead at the Order of Merit. And Parker, who shares an apartment with European-Tour-player Maximilian Kieffer, does not plan to give up that position: “Right now I’m trying to focus on the Pro Golf Tour and defending my title of the Open Royal Golf Anfa Mohammedia for the second time.”
The event in Mohammedia is part of the Morocco-Series of the Pro Golf Tour which will start with Open The Tony Jacklin in Casablanca on February 9.