The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque tournaments of the year, and we’re somewhat excited about heading back to the paradise island for the second edition. Here’s our lowdown on an event with the most stunning of surroundings…
Melting pot
The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open is unique in that it’s the only event tri-sanctioned between the European, Asian and Sunshine Tours, providing a melting pot of a field containing players from no fewer than 29 different countries.
It’s not often we see a Mauritian golfer on the entry list, but Sunshine Tour player Ludovic Bax – the only professional from Mauritius to play on a professional tour – will again tee it up in the €1million event in the hope of securing a life-changing win.
Other rarely-seen nationalities include Sri Lankan Mithun Perera and Brazilian Adilson Da Silva, and Singapore’s Mardan Mamat, who was third last year.
Rewind
The inaugural AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open did not fail to disappoint, particularly the last day which delivered a nail-biting finale. South African George Coetzee led by one stroke heading into Sunday and battled it out with Denmark’s Thorbjørn Olesen and Mamat.
Then came a hat-trick of crucial birdies on the 18th for Coetzee – first in regulation play to tie level on 13 under par with Olesen at the top of the leaderboard, then twice more in the play-off to down the Dane at the second attempt.
It was Coetzee’s third title in just over a year, adding to the Joburg and Tshwane Opens, and although he has struggled with injury since, he’s undoubtedly one of the favourites again this year.
A rare bird
When Javier Colomo stood on the ninth tee in his second round in 2015, about to tee off on his last hole of the day, the Spaniard was facing a missed cut and a weekend off to try to forget his woes and instead enjoy the delights of Mauritius.
However, a few seconds later he was helping himself to a slice of European Tour history after booming a drive straight down the 329-yard par four and into the hole. It was the first hole-in-one on a par four in the tour's history, and the albatross lifted him inside the cut line.
Little wonder the 32 year is happy to return:
“The place is incredible and my hole-in-one really made my week last year,” he said. The memory is still vividly imprinted in my mind.”
The course
The 7,500-yard, par-72 course was designed by four-time Major winner Ernie Els and is among the most spectacular in the world. A course that is suited to long hitters, it is carefully woven into the tropical topography, set against lush mountains and fringed by the crystal-clear Indian Ocean.
It has six beautiful ocean-front holes, culminating in a final approach rivalling anything else in the world.
