Chris Hanson goes into today’s European Tour Stage 2 Qualifying School full of confidence.
He enters with the perfect preparation behind him, having just spent three weeks playing on the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) Tour in the Emirates and bagging three top 10 finishes.
In June he won the Jamega Tour mini Order of Merit which helped to finance the trip, along with free accommodation from golfing friends in the Middle East.
He teed off with a week in Dubai at the swish Al Badia Golf Club where he soon discovered two of the main difference between European and Middle Eastern tours – all players are allowed to wear shorts and ride in buggies. Welcome concessions in the ferocious heat.
Al Badia involves a lot of water and, unsurprisingly, a lot of sand.
However, the lack of rough resulted in some low scoring. Hanson, who is attached to Woodsome, shot 70, 70, 69 for a -7 total and tied for 8th place.
He then headed to Ras Al Khaimah, an hour north of Dubai, for the next event at Tower Links. First he had to find a replacement Nike driver, having smashed his on the practice ground.
The course’s good layout was spoiled by its awful greens, and Chris finished with 71, 71, 69 to end up in a tie for ninth place.
Finally, it was on to the famous Saadiyat, a hugely impressive golf course (7,800 yards off the back tees) with a stunning clubhouse. He shot 75, 70, 71, making it three top 10 finishes out of three.
Hanson said: “That is a nice feeling and really is a good building block for Tour School in a week’s time. Thanks again to everyone for their continued support and a massive thank you to all who made the trip a success.”
