Mena top three enter big league

In a ringing endorsement of the Mena Golf Tour, which ended here in October, the top three participants have been invited to compete in the final stages of the Asian Tour Qualifying School. Presented by the Sports Authority of Thailand, the final stage will be held from January 18 to 21 at the Springfield Royal Country Club and Imperial Lakeview, where the top-40 and ties will earn playing rights for the 2012 Asian Tour season. Jake Shepherd, Peter Richardson and Sean McNamara, who finished among the top three on the Order of Merit earlier this year, will receive exemptions into the final stage in recognition of their performance on the four-event Mena Golf Tour, which boasted a combined prize-fund of $225,000 (Dh826,491). The three professionals, who have also been handed special invitations to play in the 2012 Omega Dubai Desert Classic in February, are excited at the prospect of competing alongside some of the world's best emerging talent in the final stage. "It will be an honour to play on the Asian Tour and we are grateful to them for the first-stage exemption," said Shepherd, who topped the Mena Golf Tour Order of Merit. "Playing on the Mena Golf Tour has opened up a wide [range of] opportunities which we never dreamed of. The exposure to the final stage competition will also help us fine-tune our game ahead of the European Tour event in Dubai." The Qualifying School will also provide upcoming players the opportunity to compete on the Asian Development Tour that has grown to eight tournaments since its inception in 2010. Added bonus Mohammad Juma Bu Amim, Chairman of the Mena Golf Tour, thanked the Asian Tour for its gesture, saying it would add more excitement to the tour. "Our tour events are open to both professionals and amateurs and, therefore, have a unique appeal. Money is one thing. They also offer an opportunity to play golf at the highest level [the Omega Dubai Desert Classic] and now this first stage exemption on the Asian Tour Q-School is an added bonus," he said. "The players won't be short on incentives when they tee it up in the second edition of the Mena Golf Tour, which we are planning to launch some time in March or April next year. "Our tour has the potential to launch the careers of regional and international stars and with time, it will contribute to enhancing the overall development of golf in the region."