Twelve year-old Louis Klein Czech shot day’s best 70 to win the Els Club Men’s Open title. His 36-hole two-day total of level-par was enough to take the crown.
The youngster started the day five shots behind first-round leader Ali Parlane, but he got off to a flyer in round two with three birdies over the front nine to go out in two-under and swiftly overtake Parlane, who was out in 41.
Klein came home in a solid level-par 36, with bogeys on 10 and 17 and birdies on 14 and finished in style with a birdie the 18th give him a two-shot victory over Trump International’s James Nash, who was one better than clubmate Arjun Gupta and Parlane.
Klein, born in the Czech Republic, started playing the game at five and gives credit for his golf to the coaching of his father, Jamie McConnell of Els Club and German Danny Wilde, coach to PGA Champions Tour player Alex Cejka. His parents were in attendance to witness his victory.
Klein was made a temporary member of Els for some winter training and returns to Czech Republic on Tuesday.
The event is sanctioned by the Emirates Golf Federation and is a EGF qualifying event of the Order of Merit.
The next Men’s EGF Order of Merit event is the Abu Dhabi Golf Club on the National Course on March 12-13.
Leaderboard
L. Klein (Els) 144
J. Nash (Trump) 146
A. Gupta (Trump) 147
A. Parlane (Els) 147
Y. Majmudar (Jumeirah) 150
J. Mullane (Els) 150
K. Yousuf (EGF) 15
J. Wiltshire (Els 151
J. Selveraj (Yas Links) 151
