The 2018 Staysure Tour season draws to a close this week at the MCB Tour Championship – Seychelles, the Indian Ocean island’s first ever professional golf tournament. Here are five things to know ahead of this week’s event at Constance Lemuria…
Still plenty at stake
After 18 events, it all comes down to this week. The top 29 available players from the Staysure Tour Order of Merit and three invitations teeing it up in paradise at the season-ending MCB Tour Championship – Seychelles.
Although Paul Broadhurst has secured the John Jacobs Trophy for topping the Order of Merit, there is still plenty to play for with guaranteed places at the 2019 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship and U.S. Senior Open to be decided.
The top ten of the Order of Merit will secure their places at The Warren Course at Notre Dame for the 40thU.S. Senior Open, while the top 20 on the season-long Rankings will guarantee their spots at Oak Hill for the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship.
King of the Swing
The King of the Swing will be crowned on Sunday afternoon with the top-performing player from the Indian Ocean Swing being recognised alongside the winner of the John Jacobs and MCB Tour Championship – Seychelles trophies.
Clark Dennis currently has a lead of almost €23,000 in the standings but, on an unfamiliar layout, anything can happen over the three days of competition.
Golfers go carting
Due to the exceptionally hilly layout on the par 70 course, buggies will be used by all competitors from the 13thhole onwards.
Par three holes on the back nine are played from elevated tees, while some of the par fours play uphill. The spectacular 15thhole par three overlooks the Anse Georgette beach, while the 18thlooks towards the main Seychelles island of Mahe. Drives travel downhill from the tee to a fairway guarded on the right-hand side by a lake.
Breaking new ground
Seychelles is the 77thcountry the European Tour has visited in its 46-year history and the 11th African nation to host a European Tour-sanctioned event. The MCB Tour Championship - Seychelles is the nation's first-ever professional golf tournament.
Other countries in Africa to welcome either the European Tour, European Challenge Tour or Staysure Tour are: Egypt, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mauritius, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Tunisia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
A unique trophy
The trophy awarded to this week’s winner is modeled on aLodoicea, commonly known as the sea coconut which is only found on the islands of Praslin and Curieuse in the Seychelles and is a symbol of huge cultural significance.
Mature fruits can weigh as much as 30kg, and take as many as seven years to mature. Images of the sea coconut fruit are used throughout the Seychelles on a number of company logos.
