2nd EPD Tour victory for German Daniel Froreich

Daniel Froreich, 25 year old member of the PGA of Germany, is the winner of the 2010 Al Maaden Classic. After three rounds on the new golf course of Al Maaden Resort near Marrakech in Morocco he secured victory with 12 under par and a two stroke margin over his fellow countryman Marcel Haremza, Ben Parker from England and Stephen Grant (Ireland) who shared 2nd place

By Matthias Lettenbichler

Marrakech (Morocco) – No matter if from short distance or from the other end of the green, no matter if from behind the flag or downhill left-right: Daniel Froreich made all important putts on the superb championship course of the Al Maaden Golf Resort and finally after rounds of 71, 65 and 68 strokes celebrated his 2nd win on the EPD Tour on Thursday. In 2008 he had triumphed at the Wörthsee Classic near Munich/Germany and finally finished as No. 6 of the Order of Merit that year, a position that made him succeed to the 2009 Challenge Tour.

But after making only one Cut last season he is now starting his second attempt to move into the 2nd league of professional golf in Europe – and it seems he is pretty well prepared for that project. “Maybe last time it was too early for me to play on the Challenge Tour – now I will try again”, the 25 year old from Spay/Germany explained. His great performance on the Al Maaden golf course in Marrakech/Morocco was based on very precise iron shots during the whole week and a “hot” putter in rounds 2 and 3. “I was striking the ball pretty good and felt very comfortable on the greens.”

A matter of fact that automatically brings him among the favorites for the 2nd tournament of the 2010 Morocco Winter Series that starts at the Samanah Country Club on Sunday. The course is just around the corner from the Al Maaden Resort and its greens are in excellent condition as well.

Another 30,000 euro prize money is available, but there might be tough fighting: Two time European Tour winner Raphaël Jacquelin will tee of at the Samanah Classic on Sunday, and it is most likely that he will try to win at his first appearance on the EPD Tour. But just this fact will be ambition enough for Daniel Froreich and his colleagues to reach out for their best golf, too. Pictures: EPD Tour

European-Tour-Champion tees off in Marrakesch

After the successful start of the season in Turkey, the EPD Tour is continuing its 2010 Winter Series starting in Morocco. The players will be pursuing prize money at three further tournaments around Marrakech. Among others, two-time European Tour winner Raphaël Jacquelin from France has also registered.  

By Matthias Lettenbichler

Marrakech ― A two-part Winter Series featuring a total of 20 tournaments in four countries is the prelude to the overall season. The EPD Tour is presenting a comprehensive tournament plan and a novelty at the beginning of the 2010 season: For the first time the Winter Series encompasses seven tournaments in two countries at the start of the new season. Each tournament includes 30,000 euros in prize money. After the successful start of the season with four events in Belek (Turkey) in the past three weeks, the second part of the Winter Series is now on the agenda with three more tournaments in Morocco between 23 February and 6 March. The EPD Tour professionals will be playing around Marrakech for another 90,000 euros in prize money and also for the same amount of points for the EPD Tour Order of Merit.

The Al Maaden Classic from 23 to 25 February on the new Al Maaden Golf Course – at the resort of the same name – near Marrakech constitutes the prelude of the tournament trilogy in Morocco. The golf action features a par 72 course which the EPD Tour tournament will open. “A quite new, very openly designed golf course against the backdrop of the Atlas Mountains”, say tournament director Kariem Baraka. “Rectangular water obstacles, rectangular greens and rectangular bunkers are a special feature here. I am eager to see how the pros cope with this.” In addition to 95 members of the EPD Tour, among them also several professionals with the right to play on the 2010 Challenge Tour, 25 players from Morocco will start at the tournament.

Round 1 of the Samanah Classic is scheduled for 28 February. This tournament will also be staged over three rounds and 54 holes until 2 March. The venue is already well-known to some players on the EPD Tour. The Samanah Masters, the Grand Final of all four satellite tours, was held in the beginning of December 2009 on the Samanah Country Club’s par 72 course. Lee Corfield may have the best memory of the course: At that time, the Englishman ended the tournament in 7th place as best player of the EPD Tour; he played a 5 under par total in three rounds.

The competition is extremely strong at this 6th tournament of the 2010 Winter Series, because in addition to the established players of the EPD Tour and a succession of Challenge Tour players, the two-time European Tour champion – Frenchman Raphaël Jacquelin has also registered. Jacquelin won the Madrid Open in 2005 and the BMW Asian Open in 2007. He ended the 2009 European Tour season in 37th place on the ranking list while earning over 800,000 euros. At The Barclays Scottish Open he only had to admit defeat at the hands of Martin Kaymer. This is why the 35 year-old pro is regarded as the top favourite at the Samanah Classic, his first start on the EPD Tour.

The Amelkis Classic from 4 to 6 March ultimately marks the end of the 2010 Winter Series. The Amelkis Golf Club features a traditional course with 9 new and 18 older holes which were designed by Cabell Robinson in 1995. The Moroccan Open was held here in 2000. At that time, the Englishman Jamie Spence won the European Tour tournament with 22 under par, while Augsburg resident Thomas Gögele – in the meantime a qualified PGA professional golf instructor – finished 40th.

The 2010 Amelkis Classic will likely be held on the 9 new holes and holes 10 to 18 of the old course. These holes are tree-lined and require accurate precision especially from the tee.