JORDANIANS BIDDING TO TAKE BACK OPEN TITLE

 Jordan’s top golfers have all stepped forward to try and win back the Jordan Golf Open which has been won by Iraq’s Amer Radee over the past three years.

The event, from March 23-25 at the Greg Norman-designed Ayla Golf Club in Aqaba, is set to welcome its strongest ever international field, but the Jordanians are training hard to wrest back the title.

Players like 13-year-old UK-based rising star Shergo Kurdi and UAE-based players Ryad Al Majali and Ramzi Al Zain have confirmed their entry while those based in Jordan are training under the watchful eye of Radee who doubles up as the national team coach.

“I realise that I am the man to beat so yes it is strange to be training the players who want to beat me but also it is pleasing to see how they have developed too,” Radee said.

“The Federation has invested well in a new facility so they are benefiting from not having to practice on soil.”

One of those local players to benefit is Asad Al Rawashdeh who says there is a new impetus on the out of competition training in order to narrow the gap with the top regional players.

“All of us have been training hard,” he said. “We are training every single day now so we can be in the best form possible for the Open.

Like all of us from Jordan, we want to win to keep the trophy at home so.

“Amer is our coach and also the holder of the trophy for the past three years so we know the level we have to reach. It is a very tough course so anything can happen down in Aqaba.”

The gross competition is expected to be held over three days while the nett competition, which takes into account the players’ handicaps, will be held on the second two days.