QOC
Ireland's Michael Young hit an eagle and three birdies in a final round of 71 for a three-over-par 219 to win the Qatar Open Amateur Championship in Doha on Saturday.
Overnight leader Tom Santa of France had a miserable birdie-less afternoon, which included four bogeys and a double bogey, and finished with six-ever-par 222 at Doha Golf Club Course and Young took full advantage to take the towering trophy and most importantly a ticket to the European Tour Commercial Bank Qatar Masters starting at Education City Golf Course on March 5.
"I am very happy to have won. This is my first victory of the year," Young told Doha Stadium Plus after the win. "I didn't think it was going to be my week, especially with the way I was playing. But this is golf, you never know what can happen. So, all in all, I am very happy."
Young conceded he did not play as good as he wanted, but Santa's disappointing show helped his cause.
"I knew the conditions were good, I knew there was the opportunity to play well but I wasn't putting well so I thought it was going to be really difficult for me to win. But I ground it out and with the help from the others. You know Tom did not have a very good day and that made a very big difference," said Young, adding that his main aim was to play in the Qatar Masters.
"I am excited about playing in the Qatar Masters, big time. That's why I came over. For the opportunity to play on the European Tour. I am going to take full advantage of it and hopefully play well," he said.
Australian Joshua Greer, Qatar's Saleh Al Kaabi and Ali Al Shahrani all finished on 224 to take third, fourth and fifth positions.
Meanwhile, in the professional division, which witnessed exciting battles on all three days, South African Mathiam Keyser carded a flawless 65 in the final round to snatch the title with an 11 under par 205.
Niklas Lemke of Sweden took second with 207 after a final round of 69 while overnight leader Brandon Robinson Thomson of UK had to settle for third after a 73 on the final day left him with 208.
Along with Young, Keyser, Lemke and Robinson Thomson also booked their berths at the Qatar Masters while Al Kaabi and Jaham Al Kuwari will represent Qatar at the prestigious event.