Video report: The
winner of Marrakech

German Marcel Haremza triumphs at Al Maaden Classic

The professional from Dießen in Bavaria secured himself the Al Maaden Classic 2012 title with three excellent rounds and a total score of 18 under par. After two 65 rounds and a 68 round on the final day, the 34-year-old had a six point lead on the US American Scott Travers (-12). Local hero Faycal Serghini and the Englishman Darren Wright shared 3^rd place with 8 under par before the gates to Marrakech.

by Matthias Lettenbichler

Marrakech/Morocco – It was what you call a convincing victory from start to finish. A performance at a high sporting level, at the end of which the opponents only had applause and recognition for the winner. Marcel Haremza opened the Al Maaden Classic, the second of this year's six tournaments in total in Morocco, with a round of 65; just one bogey was up against eight birdies. The professional from Dießen already showed here that he could cope superbly with the 72 par course. "It is a wide, open course more like the American style, which suits me!" After the first day, he shared the top of the leader board with the US-American Scott Travers, and after round 2, when Haremza returned to the clubhouse again with a brilliant 65 strokes, this time it was nine birdies, Travers was still within reach with a 66 round. However, on the final day none of the other players could even come close to the German's concentrated 68. At the end of the day, Haremza won with a six stroke lead.

"I simply played well", was his comment on his performance after the usual Champagne shower for the winner and involuntary bath in the nearest water hazard to the 18^th green. "My long game was very good. As a result, I was often able to place the ball perfectly next to the flag and had hardly any difficult putts." He moved onto the green with the assurance of a sleepwalker from distances up to five metres and even curved the ball close to the flag from 30 metres away several times. "I like Morocco", said Haremza with a smile on his face when he accepted the mighty winner's trophy. It was the 9^th title win of his career on the EPD Tour for the 34 year old; he received 5000 euro prize money for this.

The Al Maaden Golf Resort before the gates to Marrakech was an EPD Tour tournament venue for the third time in a row and the course not only received top marks from the winner. With summery temperatures of about 22 degrees, the course presented itself in an excellent condition, true greens allowed for successful putts even from a distance. After just a one day break, round 1 of the Amelkis Classic is already on the programme on Thursday. Like the Al Maaden Resort, the club is located just before the gates to Marrakech, the fairytale city at the foot of the Atlas mountains.

Marcel Haremza in a one shot lead in Morocco

Marrakech/Morocco (tki) - Marcel Haremza is birdie hunting at the Al Maaden Classic in Marrakech. The 34-year-old professional from Dießen near Munich took over sole leadership with again eight birdies on Monday after he had shot this result on Sunday. Haremza now stands on top of the leaderboard with two laps of 65 shots and a total result of -14.

"It just feels good here. The weather is nearly perfect, the course is a bit more wide open. I like that and I am very happy with my approach shots", Haremza said. Looking on his scorecard, you can see how solid he plays, because he so far birdied all four par 5 holes. "Sometimes I even had a good chance for an eagle." So the German completed all 36 holes with four strokes or better.

Just one stroke behind Haremza the US-American Scott Travers is ranked second. The Californian had a 66 on Monday and starts with -13 in the finale on Tuesday. Englishman Darren Wright, winner of Fulda EPD Tour Championship in 2011,  came home with a 69 on Monday and shared third place with local hero Facay Serghini.

Al Maaden: Marcel Haremza and Scott Travers on top

Marrakech/Morocco (tki) - Day one of the Al Maaden Classic in Marrakech ended with a German-American leadership. Marcel Haremza from Dießen near Munich shot an excellent seven under three weeks after his 34th birthday and climbed on top of the leaderboard where he is in company with Californian Scott Travers. Both professionals each wrote down a 65 on their scorecard at good weather conditions with plenty of sunshine and 20 degrees.

The 23-year-old Travers, winner of the California Amateur Championship in 2010, had played seven, Haremza even eight birdies when entering the clubhouse from the par 72 golf course in Marrakech. Scot Ross Cameron and Darren Wright from England are ranked third with 67 (-5) strokes each.

The first groups tee off at 7.30 a.m. on Monday to determine who will make the cut and will be allowed to play for prize money and victory on Tuesday at the 30,000 euro EPD Tour tournament.