RORY MCILROY TO PLAY 2010 EGYPTIAN OPEN
Young Irishman To Star In Challenge Tour’s Debut Date With Cairo

Northern Ireland’s world number seven Rory McIlroy will be the star attraction when the European Challenge Tour stages its first official event in Cairo with the 2010 Egyptian Open at the JW Marriott, Mirage City Golf Club from 20th through 23rd October.
Tournament officials today confirmed the 21 yearold superstar, tipped by many as a future world number one – will join the cream of the European Challenge Tour at the penultimate event of the season. For McIlroy it will mean a short break from the European Tour just weeks after his expected debut in The Ryder Cup and a month prior to the end of the Race To Dubai.

“To have one of the world’s best players agree to join us for the 2010 tournament is a wonderful bonus after achieving full European Challenge Tour status,” said Egyptian Golf Federation Chairman Ayman Hussein.
“Having Rory McIlroy with us will help focus attention on Egypt, a country we firmly believe has a bright golfing future to match its reputation as the original home of the game in the Middle East. I am sure he will be guaranteed a warm welcome
not only from Egyptian golf fans but also from the players of the European Challenge Tour.

Although this will be McIlroy’s first playing appearance in Egypt, the man from Hollywood, Northern Ireland is no stranger to the region having picked up his first European Tour title at the Dubai Desert Classic in 2009 before finishing the year as runner-up at the inaugural Dubai World Championship.
“I’m very excited about the chance of playing in Egypt for the first time,” said McIlroy. “It’s not a country you would think about as a home for golf but I have heard about the courses there, the history of the Egyptian Open and the developments that are coming online. I can’t wait to see it for myself.”

McIlroy made a good start to 2010 finishing third at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, while in Dubai he ended up in a tie for fifth
place just twelve months after clinching his maiden tour title in the emirate.
Despite a niggling back problem and some time off the course, he bounced back in sensational style recording his first PGA Tour win with a final round course record 62 at the Quail Hollow Championship – with it he became the first player since Tiger Woods to win a PGA Tour event prior to his 21st birthday.

In Cairo, McIlroy will join around 80 players from the European Challenge Tour as well as a selection of local and regional invites and qualifiers. In 2009, the event, while not part of the official European Challenge Tour calendar at the time, attracted an impressive field complemented by a guest appearance by European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie.
“Last year’s event was very impressive for a first attempt and we expect the 2010 Egyptian Open to take the tournament to even greater heights both in terms of infrastructure and quality of play,” said Nick Tarratt, Director, The European Tour International, Dubai Office.

“Its position as an end-of-season event means it will command a strong field, while the appearance of one of the world’s most exciting players in Rory McIlroy underlines the massive steps taken by the Egyptian Golf Federation in putting golf in Egypt on the world map.”

Issa Abou El Ela, Egypt’s top junior golfer, finishes 9th in the Silver category at the 2010 Junior British Open
Issa Abou El Ela completed an outstanding season by finishing 9th in the Silver category of the 2010 Junior British Open. The 16 year old, now playing off 5 handicap, has won a number of juniors events this year including the Egyptian Junior Open back in May. Abou El Ela, improved on his opening score by 3 shots, scoring an 80 on a tough day for scoring around the much respected Championship course of Lundin Links on a day that produces strong winds and some rain fall at times.

The National Team has been announced for the 2010 World Amateur Team Championship to take place in Argentina…
National Team Manager Ghassan Kabbani and National Coach Anne Le Coniat have announced the team to compete for Egypt in the 2010 World Amateur Team Championship to take place in Argentina from October 23rd to 30th 2010. The team of three competing for the Eisenhower Trophy will be Taymour Abou El Khier ( Katameya Heights), Issa Abou El Ela ( Alexandria Sporting
Club) and Mike Adly (Katameya Heights). The first alternate has been named as Abdel Monem El Shafei ( Gezira Sporting Club).
“Taymour and Mike had outstanding seasons, with Taymour winning the EGF Order of Merit and Mike securing his first Open win and performing well over the season. Issa is clearly one of our outstanding junior talents for the future and the experience he will gain from competing this year will make a him a real competitor in 2012. The team will prepare for the event with the 54 Hole Egyptian Amateur Open and with a structured coaching program with the National Coach prior to departure. They will travel to the Championships with Team Manager Ghassan Kabbani and National Coach Anne Le Coniat. Le Coniat with a wealth of experience with the French National Team at the WATC expects the team to perform well and the goal for the team is to reach the top 30.

Mohamed El Afifi, Farid Saad, Hide Nishihira and Heba De Maurissiens take the honors in the Red Sea Open.
Hide Nishihira of Japan became the 2010 Red Sea Ladies Open Champion this weekend with rounds of 86 and 90 for a tournament winning total of 176 to beat Maha El Sennousi by 7 strokes who shot 90 and 93. Third place went to fellow Dreamland
member Nagwa Kamy, who managed rounds of 93 and 92 for a tournament total of 185. Tournament host, Dr Farid Saad, enjoyed a convincing victory in the super senior category with superb stableford rounds of 32 and 35 for a 65 points total and victory over Roger Dally in 2nd and Mike Triggs in 3rd. Mohamed El Affifi won the senior category with a 66 point total. Runner up was Jasper Hulse with Kohn Laing in third.