Faycal Serghini will provide spark in Mena Tour return

Ten Moroccan players will be playing at the Tower Links Course on Monday for the Ras Al Khaimah Classic while the country has the second-largest representation in the field after England, with 30 entries.

Faycal Serghini, who missed the last three events on the tour because he was attending the European Tour Qualifying School in France, believes he can challenge the frontrunners for the title if he plays to his potential. Ross Kinnaird / Getty Images
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The Moroccan contingent on the Mena Tour have received a boost with the arrival of experienced Faycal Serghini ahead of the Ras Al Khaimah Classic, which starts Monday.

Serghini, who missed the last three events on the tour because he was attending the European Tour Qualifying School in France, believes he can challenge the frontrunners for the title if he plays to his potential.

“I have been down this route before – and know what to expect,” said Serghini, who missed advancing to the second stage of the Q-School by one shot.

Ten Moroccan players will be playing at the Tower Links Course today. The country has the second-largest representation in the field after England, with 30 entries.

With three wins in five starts under his belt this season, England’s Zane Scotland will start as the favourite. Scotland lost another tournament in a play-off to Welsh veteran Stephen Dodd. Scotland finished second to Mohammad Munir at the RAK event last year.

The English trio of Ian Keenan, Yasin Ali and Jake Shepherd also are out to stop Scotland’s record-setting run.

Also back in the field is UAE’s Ahmed Al Musharrekh, who was forced to withdraw from last week’s Dubai Open due to a stiff neck.

The RAK event, which has been a Mena fixture in all three years of the tour’s existence, received so many entries, organisers held a pre-qualifying round.

“The fact that so many players signed up for the RAK Classic demonstrates the growing popularity of the event – and also of the tour,” said tour chairman Mohamed Juma Buamaim.

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