The Staysure Tour made its first trip to Madagascar as the MCB Tour Championship – Madagascar began the three event final series MCB Tour Championship. What a week it was at International Golf Club Du Rova.
Magical Madagascar
Madagascar became the 46th country to host a Staysure Tour event when the inaugural MCB Tour Championship – Madagascar began the three event final series Indian Ocean Swing.
It was the first European Tour-sanctioned event to be held in the country and it was a week to remember for Barry Lane as he became the debut winner of the event. The crowds were out in full to watch the action and hundreds gathered at the 18th green to see Lane lift the trophy.
Local star JB
There was one star in particular which the Madagascan crowd were eager to get a glimpse of, local pro and home favourite Jean Baptiste Ramarozatovo.
Those crowds. That home support.
— Staysure Tour (@StaysureTour) November 30, 2019
Soak it in, Jean Baptiste 🙌 #MCBTourChamp 🇲🇬 pic.twitter.com/4N1oXZfaek
Winner of the Open de Madagascar in 1997, 1998 and 1999 at International Golf Club Du Rova, the Madagascan pro knew his way around the layout and used his local knowledge to his advantage as he dazzled the local crowds with his personality and shot making to finish in a share of seventh place.
It was a week to remember for Ramarozatovo, who became the first Madagascan player to play in a Staysure Tour event, and he certainly enjoyed it.
Up-and-down for par on the first in front of the home crowd...
— Staysure Tour (@StaysureTour) November 30, 2019
Worth celebrating for Jean Baptiste ☝️🕺 #MCBTourChamp 🇲🇬 pic.twitter.com/YCmgHoxyYA
Dialled in Dennis
Clark Dennis carded the low round of the week with a stunning bogey free six under par round of 65 to race to the top of the leaderboard at the end of day two.
The American, who was going in search of his sixth Staysure Tour title, and second win of the year, made two gains on the front nine before finishing with four birdies in his final five holes to record the only bogey free round of the week.
Shorts on show
Players were once again allowed to play tournament rounds in shorts at the MCB Tour Championship, having made history on the Staysure Tour 12 months ago when players wore shorts at the MCB Tour Championship – Mauritius for the first time on the over 50s circuit.
Many players made the most of the opportunity, including Welshman Mark Mouland in his colourful pair…
