Carl Jano Corpus followed in the footsteps of his cousin, Aidric Chan, and became the second Filipino champion in the two weeks the Asian Development Tour has been in Morocco.

The 23-year-old Corpus, who turned pro at the start of the year, won the US$125,000 Morocco Rising Stars Marrakech – Al Maaden Golf Resorts in only his fifth start on the ADT and sixth as a professional. It came a week after Chan won the Morocco Rising Stars Marrakech – Samanah Golf Club.

It also meant that the two cousins will be staying back in the country to take part in next week’s US$2 million International Series Morocco. Corpus, tied ninth at Samanah, topped the aggregate money list from the two back-to-back ADT events, with Chan in second place.

On Sunday at the Kyle Phillips-designed golf course, Corpus edged Thailand’s Settee Prakongvech by one shot after a bogey-free round of seven-under par 65. Settee, the overnight joint leader, also shot a bogey-free round, but his 66 needed at least one more red number on the card to have any chance of stopping the promising Filipino star.

Settee Prakongvech of Thailand. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

The San Jose State University alumni finished on 25-under with Settee on 24-under. While it became a two-man battle towards the end, they had to overcome the initial challenge posed by Mexico’s Santiago De la Fuente. The 2024 Latin American Amateur Championship winner broke the course record held by another Mexican – Fernando Lira at the LET Golf Q School event – and Corpus on Saturday. The 11-under 61 gave him solo third place at 22-under.

American Charles Porter (64), Filipino Justin Quiban (65), Pakistan’s Ahmad Baig (66), Malaysia’s Marcus Lim (66) and Thailand’s Tanapat Pichaikool (69) were tied for fourth place at 19-under.

Corpus and Settee both started the final round at 18-under, and it was the 23-year-old Filipino who made the first move with three successive birdies from the second to fourth holes. The 30-year-old Thai then responded with four straight birdies from the sixth to ninth holes, and both players made the turn at 23-under.

On the back nine, Corpus edged ahead with a birdie on the 11th, but Settee caught up once again with a birdie on the par-5 13th. The two players were now locked at 24-under par.

Corpus may have missed his birdie on the 13th, but he delivered what proved to be the knock-out blow on the next par-5 16th hole. He made the birdie as Settee missed his, and that proved to be the difference in the end.

Santiago De la Fuente of Mexico. Picture by Vachira Kalong/Asian Tour

“I started thinking about it yesterday as soon as I finished my round that I could win this thing. And ever since, I have been feeling a lot of pressure on myself. I kept thinking what can I do for tomorrow? Honestly, I haven’t been in this position before. To get it done, it’s such a different experience. It’s something that I hope I can feel again in the near future,” said Corpus, who was 23-under for his last 57 holes with two eagles, 20 birdies and just one bogey.

“I am a champion. That’s something that’s not going to be taken away from me, something that I have until the rest of my life. I am definitely excited about the opportunity to play in an International Series event. It is all about getting the opportunity to play in bigger events, to showcase my talent and to showcase the support that I have back at home, and also here in Morocco with my mom. I am happy to have the opportunity to showcase the hard work that I put in to get here.”

Leading by one on the 18th hole, Corpus hit a great drive and then hit his second to 35 feet. His first putt left him a putt of less than two feet for the win.

“I was shaking at that point. It was like an earthquake because I just could not keep my putter stable. I am glad it went in,” added Corpus.

De la Fuente started his final round with eight birdies in the first nine holes. He cooled down on the back nine, but picked up three more shots to get into Al Maaden Golf Resorts’ history book.

“I played great and hit some very good shots out there. To achieve the course record here at Al Maaden is very unique for me,” said De la Fuente, who secured his best finish as a professional.

The Asian Development Tour takes a break after this and returns with the US$150,000 Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament in Indonesia’s Damai Indah Golf course from August 20-23.

Watching his cousin brother Aidric Chan win two Asian Development Tour titles this year has been inspirational for Carl Jano Corpus, and the Filipino youngster served notice of his own immense potential by sensationally grabbing a share of the lead on day three of the US$125,000 Morocco Rising Stars Marrakech – Al Maaden Golf Resorts.

The San Jose State University star, who turned professional earlier this year and turns 24 next month, shot a sparkling round of 10-under par 62 at the Kyle Phillips-designed golf course on Saturday. Corpus made a bogey during the round, but more than made up for that solitary mistake with one eagle and nine birdies.

At 18-under par aggregate, Corpus was joined at the top of the leaderboard by overnight co-leader Thailand’s Settee Prakongvech, who shot a bogey-free 65.

Australia’s Darcy Brereton (64), Thailand’s Tanapat Pichaikool (66) and American Ryoto Furuya (66) were tied for third place at 16-under, two shots behind the leaders.

Settee Prakongvech of Thailand. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“I didn’t really try anything different today,” said Corpus, who completed the front nine in 29. “Since I was in college, we’ve been focusing on our routines, just focusing on the target. I didn’t think about anything else but to give myself a good opportunity to score. That’s what I did the whole day. And I holed a lot of putts today. The hole looked pretty big to me today, and I could see the breaks.”

The sole bogey on the 11th was more of a mental mistake, where after hitting his drive left, Corpus said he was hoping to get a free relief, but did not get it.

“I just told myself that I was playing well and would not have been seven-under if not for that. I went to the next hole trying to make a birdie again and managed to do just that – holing a 20-footer on the tough par-3,” Corpus added.

Chan, winner of last week’s Morocco Rising Stars Marrakech – Samanah Golf Club and Lexus Challenge in Vietnam in March, is the son of his maternal aunt and the two have virtually grown up together. They lived in the same compound in Manila, had the same coach and even went to the same school. For more than a decade and half, they have been trying to beat each other.

“When I saw Aidrich win Lexus, coming from behind as well, it was so inspiring for me because I have seen him work and put in the effort. That made me check out the small things that I could do to get to get better every single day.

One of those things that I saw with Adrich was his chipping…it was tremendous. It wasn’t like that last year. And then he really put in the hard work, and that inspired me to put in the work as well. I worked especially on my putting, and it was good to see some of that pay off today.”

Settee, looking for his second win on the ADT, made three birdies on the front nine and four on the back.

“It was another good day. Like yesterday, my irons and putter were working well again,” said the 30-year-old from Chonburi.

The champion this week will almost be assured to get one of two invitations up for grabs for the US$2 million International Series Morocco, which will be played from July 3-6.

The two leading players from an aggregate money list from the two Morocco ADT events (not otherwise exempt) will earn the invitations. Chan, winner last week, leads that list, and will be joined by Corpus, if he can pull it off on Sunday.

Thailand’s Settee Prakongvech, playing just a group behind overnight leader Varun Chopra, shot a brilliant round of nine-under par 63 to catch up with the American on top of the leaderboard at the halfway stage of the US$125,000 Morocco Rising Stars Marrakech – Al Maaden Golf Resorts.

A former champion on the Asian Development Tour, Settee made a bogey on the 18th hole – his ninth – but eight birdies and an eagle were good enough to elevate him to 11-under aggregate at the Kyle Phillips-designed golf course and tied for lead with the rock-solid Chopra, who has managed to keep bogeys out of his card for a second straight day in a round of 69.

Japan’s Ryoto Furuya (63), Mexico’s Santiago De la Fuente (69), England’s Ben Jones (67), Thailand’s Tanapat Pichaikool (68) were tied third at 10-under par, while England’s Sam Broadhurst (68) and Sweden’s Filip Lundell (69) were tied seventh one shot further back.

The cut fell at three-under par 141 and 57 players, including two amateurs, made it to the weekend.

Settee, the promising 30-year-old from Chonburi, has won five times in professional circuits, and all his triumphs have come in his home country.  But he has now put himself in a great position going into what promises to be a hot weekend.

“I hit my irons really well today and my putting was very good. I made a few long putts, and I made an eagle, which always helps,” said Settee after his round.

“It was a perfectly played hole (the par-5 fourth). I hit a driver right down the middle, then cut a six-iron to the middle of the green and made the putt from 12 feet.”

Varun Chopra of the USA. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Chopra, who made so many birdies in his opening round of 64 on Thursday that he could not decide which was his favourite one, picked up only three shots on Friday.

The 24-year-old American, who also co-led the tournament at Samanah at the halfway stage last week, stayed patient after making just one regulation birdie on the par-5 16th and 13 pars after starting from the 10th tee. He was then rewarded with two birdies in his last four holes, including a holed bunker shot on the sixth and a very pleasing closing one on his final hole.

The tall Chopra, who was a very good basketball player in his school days, said: “It was a pretty slow day for me, but I stayed in it and managed to shoot a good score. I had a few birdie chances and did not get them. I made a lot of pars – 15 of them.

“So, I just tried to stay positive and told myself that I was doing all the right things.”

The champion this week will almost be assured to get one of two invitations up for grabs for the US$2 million International Series Morocco, which will be played from July 3-6. The two leading players from an aggregate money list from the two Morocco ADT events (not otherwise exempt) will earn the invitations. Philippines’ Aidric Chan, winner last week, leads that list with India’s Karandeep Kochhar in second place.

Red-hot Varun Chopra was close to a breakthrough win last week at Samanah Golf Club, and he continued his brilliant form in the weather-interrupted opening round of the US$125,000 Morocco Rising Stars Marrakech – Al Maaden Golf Resorts, shooting a bogey-free eight-under par 64.

The 24-year-old American, who co-led the tournament at the halfway stage last week with impeccable rounds of 67 and 66, slipped to tied ninth after a forgettable third-round 74. It was disappointing, but Chopra showed on Thursday that it had made no dent in his confidence.

Overcoming the hot conditions in the afternoon round, Chopra’s 64 was one better than Mexico’s Santiago De la Fuente, who is trying to kickstart his professional career. The 23-year-old, who played the Masters, the US Open and the Open Championship last year as a reward for winning the 2024 Latin American Amateur Championship, put together an impressive round of 65 that included two eagles.

Moroccan amateur Reda El Hali led the local challenge with a superb, bogey-free effort of six-under 66. He was joined in tied third place by Sweden’s Filip Lundell, England’s Sam Rook, Pakistan’s Ahmad Baig, and the Thai duo of Tanapat Pichaikool and Suttinon Panyo.

Play was suspended at 6:08 p.m. local time due to a lightning threat and sandstorms. Round 1 will commence at 7:20 a.m. on Friday, with Round 2 to start as scheduled at 7:45 a.m.

Santiago De la Fuente of Mexico. Picture by Kaikungwon Duanjumroon/Asian Tour

Chopra was eight-under par through 14 holes and finished with four straight pars. Even though he made a bunch of birdies, the Northwestern University alumni said his par saves were more memorable.

“I got off to a good start and was five-under on the front nine. I made a lot of good par saves. On the par-threes, I missed a couple of greens and my short game was pretty good. And then on the last hole as well, made a good up-and-down for par. So, it was good that I kept the round together,” said Chopra.

“I drove it pretty well, and I made some good clutch putts to save pars. To be honest, I had so many birdies, but I remember the pars more for some reason. It just feels like they were more important.

“Like, on the third hole, I missed the green on the par-three and was in the back bunker. I hit it to about 15-20 feet from the pin and made the putt. Those were kind of nice momentum pars. I feel like those were big. All the birdies were on par-fives and sort of regulation birdies.

“I learned a lot last week. The third round wasn’t great for me. I felt like I played well the other three days. I learned a lot from that Saturday, like how to mentally approach it a bit better.”

De la Fuente eagled two of the par-5s – the fourth and 13th – chipping in from 15 yards on both holes. His only bogey of the day came on the par-4 10th hole, and he closed with a birdie on the 18th.

“It was a good round. I hit it pretty solid. Then got lucky with a few chip-ins on par-fives, which helped me make the two eagles. I finished strong with a good birdie. I always found myself in the right position. I made just one mistake, and it cost me a bogey,” said De la Fuente.

The champion this week will almost be assured to get one of two invitations up for grabs for the US$2 million International Series Morocco, which will be played from July 3-6. The two leading players from an aggregate money list from the two Morocco ADT events (not otherwise exempt) will earn the invitations. Philippines’ Aidric Chan, winner last week, leads that list with India’s Karandeep Kochhar in second place.

While the Asian Development Tour (ADT) stays in Morocco this week for the second of two Morocco Rising Stars Marrakech events, the players will face a vastly different challenge at Al Maaden Golf Resort.

Having battled for four days at the desert-themed Samanah Golf Club, they will have to adapt to a Moroccan garden-styled layout at Al Maaden just 20 kilometres away. Both courses are set against one of the most spectacular backdrops in world golf – the snow-capped peaks of the Atlas Mountains.

Nicolas Barraud, General Manager of Al Maaden, noted that the Kyle Philips-designed layout is a “fun and unique golf course to play.”

“The fairways are wide, making it accessible for all levels, but it still offers a good challenge for experienced players. Kyle Phillips brought his signature style while blending it with a Moroccan identity. You really feel that mix throughout the course,” said Barraud.

“While the fairways are generous, water plays a big role on several holes, making shot placement crucial. Some fairway bunkers can be especially tricky and force you to think carefully about your landing zones,” he elaborated.

There will be a lot to play for this week as the players vie to finish among the top two in a special money list for the back-to-back Moroccan ADT events, and earn starts in the following week’s US$2 million International Series Morocco at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in the capital city of Rabat. With Al Maaden’s 18th hole set up to provide a grandstand finish with its risk-for-reward design, fans can expect a fair amount of thrills and spills at the par-five closer.

Barraud explained: “Many players try to reach the green in two by cutting across the water, but it’s riskier than it looks. The large central bunker, designed as a tribute to the Saadian Tombs, makes this hole both a strategic and aesthetic highlight.”

In between shots, players will be able to enjoy artistic respite in 12 contemporary sculptures. “The most striking feature here is the presence of contemporary art in 12 monumental sculptures, created by artists specifically for the course. This is a reflection of the art-loving spirit of the family behind Al Maaden, who also founded the Museum of African Contemporary Art Al Maaden in Marrakech,” Barraud revealed.

Another unique element of the Al Maaden course is the rectangular shape of its water hazards, inspired by the iconic pool of the Menara Gardens in Marrakech.

“Together, the art, water and landscape create a golfing experience that’s both visually captivating and architecturally thoughtful,” Barraud concluded.

The desert-themed Samanah Golf Club, venue of the first event in the Morocco Rising Stars Marrakech.

If the first Morocco Rising Stars Marrakech event at Samanah is anything to go by, fans will be in for another thrilling week of golf. Samanah’s Nicklaus Design course held up well against the onslaught of the ADT talents and a large Moroccan contingent, while rewarding good play. Bearing testament to the layout’s championship pedigree, the cream eventually rose to the top and Filipino Aidric Chan’s impressive 18-under-par total made him a worthy winner indeed.

Samanah’s General Manager, Adyl Sayagh, noted that strategic play – as demonstrated to near-perfection by Chan – is the key to low scores.

“While the fairways may appear generous off the tee, precise shot placement is essential to navigate the strategically-placed bunkers and find the well-protected greens. With subtle elevation changes and large undulating greens, players need to think their way around the course rather than rely on power alone,” said Sayagh.

Sayagh emphasized that the Samanah course strikes a subtle balance between the site’s natural beauty and architectural precision. “The desert-style landscaping, uninterrupted views of the mountains, and immaculate conditioning all year round create an exceptional experience,” he stressed.

Several holes at Samanah stand out, including the last two which had a huge impact on the outcome of the tournament. Under pressure from the chasing pack, Chan had to make two gutsy pars to seal the win.

“Hole 17 is a beautifully-framed par-three with water guarding the front, and requires pinpoint accuracy especially when the wind is up. The final hole is a dramatic par-four offering a true risk-reward scenario. With the clubhouse in view and water in play, it’s a thrilling end to the round and often decides the match,” Sayagh pointed out.

Marking the ADT’s first-ever stop in the African continent, the Morocco Rising Stars Marrakech double-header is jointly sanctioned by the Arab Golf Federation and staged in collaboration with the Hassan II Golf Trophy Association and the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation.

Main picture: View of the Moroccan garden-styled Al Maaden Golf Club, venue of the second event in the Morocco Rising Stars Marrakech.

A solid seven-under par 65 final round vaulted promising Filipino star Aidric Chan to a one-shot win in the US$125,000 Morocco Rising Stars Marrakech, and also to the top of the Asian Development Tour Order of Merit.

It was the second win of the season for the 21-year-old Chan following his triumph in the Lexus Challenge in March. The win almost guarantees that he’d be one of the graduates to the Asian Tour next season. Chan also booked himself one of the two places available in next month’s US$2 million International Series Morocco through a special money list from the two Morocco ADT events.

At the Jack Nicklaus-designed Samanah Golf Club on Sunday, Chan started the final round two shots behind overnight leader, Italy’s Luca Cianchetti, at 11-under par, and finished on 18-under par total. That was good enough to edge India’s Karandeep Kochhar, who shot a bogey-free 65, by one shot.

The victory was worth US$21,875 for Chan, who represented the University of Arizona Wildcats in the US during his college years. It pushed him past Thailand’s Tawit Polthai as the ADT Order of Merit leader with season’s earnings of US$38,352.17.

England’s Finlay Manson also came home with a round of 65, which lifted him to solo third place at 16-under, while Thailand’s Varanyu Rattanaphiboonkij (68) and England’s Sam Broadhurst (69) were tied fourth a shot further behind.

A final-hole bogey denied Morocco’s Ayoub Lguirati (71) a deserving top-10 finish, but the 31-year-old was still the leading player from his home country at 11-under and tied 13th place.

Aidric Chan of the Philippines. Picture courtesy RMGF

Cianchetti needed early birdies to protect his slender one-shot lead, but he could only make two in the front nine and gave away that advantage with two bogeys. A double on 11th, followed by another dropped shot on the 12th, paved the way for those following him to take control. One-third into the final round for the leaders, it was a tight leaderboard with six players on top at -13.

Chan took control on the back nine, especially on the stretch of five holes between the 12th and 16th, where he made four birdies. He then made two gutsy pars on the closing holes.

“You know, I couldn’t be any more grateful for being in this position,” said the 21-year-old from Manila. “I started the day with a birdie. My wedges instantly clicked in for me. I did bogey the second hole, but today, I felt that every time I was holding a wedge, I was getting it to the flag and then making a putt. That felt really good.”

On the possibility that he’d graduate to the Asian Tour next season, Chan added: “I’m feeling a big relief. The weight is off my back. Players like me, we really aim to play on a higher stage every time.

“So, I’m really happy that I was able to close this out and save myself a trip to the Q-School. I’m really excited for what comes ahead. I don’t know what the future holds, but I will stay focused on my goals.”

Karandeep Kochhar of India. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Kochhar, who lost his Asian Tour card in 2024 after struggling with his form, was delighted with the way he played, even though he missed the title by one shot.

A glorious 40-foot putt for birdie on the 17th hole brought Kochhar into the frame, but he was left with another 40-footer birdie attempt on the last to match Chan, which stopped short.

“I think the bogeys yesterday (69) on the 17th and 18th cost me this week, but that’s fine,” said the Chandigarh-based golfer. “The game is trending in the right direction. I don’t play the ADT much, but considering this finish, I’m going to play more on the Tour in the second half of the season.”

The Asian Development Tour will remain in Morocco and move some 20 kilometres northwards to Al Maaden Golf Resorts for its back-to-back event in Marrakech.

Hailing from the city that has given the world some of the finest supercars, including Ferrari, Italian Luca Cianchetti is hoping for a fast finish and win his first title on the Asian Development Tour after he grabbed a one-shot lead going into the final round of the US$125,000 Morocco Rising Stars Marrakech, the first of the two back-to-back ADT events being played in the country.

The 30-year-old Modena native is no stranger to success, having won the 2016 European Amateur Championship and then three titles on the Alps Tour. However, if he gets it done at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Samanah Golf Club on Sunday, it will be the biggest professional win in the career of the promising Italian.

Playing one group behind the leaders, Cianchetti birdied the last for a third-round five-under par 67, which was good for a 13-under par total and one ahead of England’s Sam Broadhurst, who closed with six birdies in his last seven holes to card the day’s best round of 64 and move to 12-under total.

Local hero and overnight leader Ayoub Lguirati seemed to be on course to remain on top of the leaderboard after 54 holes, but two late bogeys saw him slip to tied third place at 11-under with an even-par round.

Joining Lguirati was another Italian Michele Ortolani, who has made a name traveling all parts of the world and playing in far-flung tours, including India’s PGTI Tour. Ortolani shot a 65 and was joined by Thailand’s Varanyu Rattanaphiboonkij and the Philippines’ Aidric Chan, who both shot rounds of 69.

Michele Ortolani of Italy. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Playing in his first season on the ADT, Cianchetti is hoping to get his Asian Tour card, and Sunday could be a big step for him.

“I started off nicely with some good drives that I could take advantage off, because I was hitting it really close on the greens. I was just so-so on the back nine, but I kept my patience and made a nice eagle on the 12th. Made a little mistake on 17 with a bogey, but I made a good recovery with a very good birdie on the 18th,” said Cianchetti, who qualified for the 2017 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

“I was looking at the leaderboard, but I tried to get as many chances as possible during the round, and I’m happy with how I capitalised on them. I was just trying to play my game. It has worked the last three days, so I hope it will work again tomorrow.”

Broadhurst, son of European legend Paul, missed a chance of winning his first ADT title at the Lexus Challenge earlier this year in Vietnam, where two bogeys on the back nine denied him glory.

“Today was kind of cooler to start the day. The ball wasn’t going as far as it has been all week, which, I guess, suited me a bit better. I really struggled yesterday trying to hit the right number as it kept flying too far,” said the 28-year-old, who was on the bag of his father when he won the 2016 Senior Open Championship.

“I feel like I learned a lot from the Lexus Challenge. I was too much engrossed in the final group. I didn’t really know where I was until the 18th, and then got told I needed a birdie. Obviously, missed that short one, which is annoying. I kind of felt like I turned it into a match play. And you just can’t do that. You have just got to stay the moment really and concentrate on your own game. Doesn’t really matter who you’re playing, or what your partners are doing.”

Apart from the winner’s cheque, the champion this week will almost be assured one of the two invitations up for grabs for the US$2 million International Series Morocco, which will be played from July 3-6. The two leading players from an aggregate money list from the two Morocco ADT events (not otherwise exempt) will earn the invitations.

Ayoub Lguirati gladdened the hearts of home fans as he used his immense local knowledge and moved to the top of the leaderboard at the halfway stage of the US$125,000 Morocco Rising Stars Marrakech, the first of the two Asian Development Tour (ADT) events being played in the country.

The 31-year-old Lguirati overcame back-to-back bogeys early in his round to post a solid round of six-under par 66 to move to 11-under total, where he was joined by American Varun Chopra with a similar score, but one that featured an eagle and was bogey-free.

India’s Khalin Joshi shot a sparkling nine-under 63 to match the course record. He could have easily broken it as he made a last-hole bogey after playing the first 17 holes to 10-under par.

The bogey on the 18th also denied Joshi a share of the lead, but he was alone in third place at 10-under, while overnight leader, Thailand’s Varanyu Rattanaphiboonkij, only added a one-over par 73 round to his  Thursday outing of 63 and slipped to a five-way tie for fourth place at eight-under.

Varun Chopra of the USA. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

The cut fell at two-under par 142 and 55 players, including amateur Ayoub Ssouadi, progressed to the weekend.

Lguirati, who will be looking to improve on his career best ADT finish of tied fourth (at 2024 Toyota Tour Championship), said he knew he had to take advantage of playing in calmer morning conditions.

“I have been playing at this club for the past couple of years. The course, and the staff, is just amazing. I knew the conditions would be much easier in the morning with the greens being receptive and the wind being calm. I was having difficulty stopping my wedges on the greens when I played in the afternoon on Thursday,” said Lguirati, who started from the 10th tee.

“I was happy with the eight birdies I made, but the one on the par-3 17th was special, because I had made back-to-back bogeys on the 14th and 15th. I hit a 5-iron to about 15 feet and made that putt. It was important because it helped me get back into the round and I made three birdies in a row on the first to third holes.”

Chopra started from the 10th tee, and turned a solid bogey-free round of four-under after 17 holes into a spectacular round of 66 with an eagle on the par-5 ninth hole.

Khalin Joshi of India. Picture by Thananuwat Srirasant/Asian Tour

Joshi was a bit perplexed that his drive on the 18th hole travelled 320 yards and finished right up the fairway bunker wall after going through the fairway. He had to come out in the fairway and did not hit the best chip from 40 yards to make the only bogey of his round.

“I’m very happy with the way I played today. I was very solid from tee-to-green,” said Joshi, a winner on the Asian Tour.

“I think we got the harder side of the draw yesterday – it was pretty windy – and I felt I left a lot of shots out there. But I did manage to capitalise today as conditions in the morning were pretty gettable.

“I had no idea that 10-under was the course record. I hit a solid drive on the 18th, exactly where I planned to hit it, and it just ran through the fairway into the wall of the fairway bunker. I just had to hack it out at made a bogey. If you gave it to me at the start of the day, I would have taken the nine under for sure.”

Apart from the winner’s cheque, the champion this week will almost be assured one of the two invitations up for grabs for the US$2 million International Series Morocco, which will be played from July 3-6. The two leading players from an aggregate money list from the two Morocco ADT events (not otherwise exempt) will earn the invitations.

Varanyu Rattanaphiboonkij, no stranger to success on the Asian Development Tour, put himself in pole position for a third Tour title after the opening round of $125,000 Morocco Rising Stars Marrakech, the first of the two Moroccan events being played at the Samanah Golf Club.

The 28-year-old Thai star won the Combiphar Players Championship in 2018, and then went low in all three rounds at the 2022 Aramco Invitational. On Thursday, he once again showed his penchant for making birdies in a bunch when he made nine in a bogey-free round of nine-under par 63, matching the course record at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Samanah Golf Club.

Canadian Stephen Ames also shot a 63 during the 2020 Morocco Champions, an event on the Champions Tour.

Despite going low, Varanyu was ahead only by one shot, as exciting young Filipino star Aidric Chan made four birdies on both nines of the golf course to be just one behind the leader.

The English duo of Matt Killen and Finlay Mason, and Malaysia’s Shahriffuddin Ariffin were tied third at six-under 66.

Morocco’s Ayoub Lguirati, who finished tied fourth at last year’s Toyota Tour Championship, was best placed among the local stars in the field. Without dropping any shots, the 31-year-old finished on five-under 67, tied sixth with six other players.

Aldric Chan of the Philippines. Picture by Jason Butler/Asian Tour.

“Very happy with my round today. Never missed anything. I played well all the way until I finished. I just tried to keep it simple, tried to enjoy my game, enjoy the weather and just laughed a lot through the round,” said Varanyu, who started his round from the first and was five-under par at the turn with four straight birdies from the sixth to ninth holes.

“I like the golf course. It is a lot of fun. So, I am happy to match the course record in my first time playing in Morocco.

“My favourite hole on the golf course is the ninth (537-yard, par-5), because I think I have a chance of making an eagle there.”

Chan, who is fifth in the ADT Order of Merit after winning the Lexus Challenge earlier this year, started with a birdie and picked up shots on each of the four par-5s on the golf course.

“I played the course fairly steady in terms making birdies one at a time. Like I really did not try to force anything out there. Was very happy a lot of the putts kind of went in for me and even made a couple putts from off the green,” said Chan, who represented University of Arizona when in college.

“This golf course reminds me a bit about the courses we had in Arizona. The desert, the bunkers and definitely the greens, are like what we get in Arizona. The heat is very similar, too.”

Indonesia’s Peter Gunawan made his first hole-in-one in a competitive round when he aced the par-3 eighth hole, en route to a one-under par 71 effort.

“It was brutal and into the wind. It was playing about 178 yards. All I was thinking was, as long as I keep it left of the pin, the wind is going to push it back in. Hit a 5-iron, keep it about 30 feet left of the pin and see what happens,” said the 29-year-old Gunawan, who will be looking to make his first top-10 finish on the Asian Development Tour.

“I’m kind of blind, and I did not see it go in. My playing partner saw it and I was like, ‘Nah, it can’t be’. I went to the toilet, and when I came out, that was a happy little surprise.”

Apart from the winner’s cheque, the champion this week will almost be assured one of the two invitations up for grabs for the US$2 million International Series Morocco, which will be played from July 3-6. The two leading players from an aggregate money list from the two Morocco ADT events (not otherwise exempt) will earn the invitations.

An unforgettable experience awaits the players of the Asian Development Tour (ADT) when the region’s leading developmental circuit visits the northern African nation of Morocco this week.

Two Moroccan Rising Stars Marrakech events will debut consecutively in Marrakech, dubbed the ‘Red City’ for the ochre hue of its sandstone buildings, each offering a handsome purse of US$125,000. The first event tees off this week at Marrakech Samanah Golf Club (June 19-22), followed by a three-day break before the second event at Marrakech Al Maaden Golf Resort (June 26-29).

Jointly sanctioned by the Arab Golf Federation and staged in collaboration with the Hassan II Golf Trophy Association and the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation, the back-to-back events mark a major milestone for the ADT as the circuit’s first-ever stop in the African continent. The top two players in an aggregate money list will earn spots in the Asian Tour’s US$2 million International Series Morocco, which takes place at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in the Moroccan capital of Rabat from July 3-6.

Leading Moroccan professional Ayoub Lguirati was brimming over with excitement to see his fellow-ADT combatants gear up to do battle in his country.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to have the ADT in Morocco with the two Morocco Rising Stars Marrakech events. This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase Moroccan golf to a broader audience and inspire more people in the region to take up the game. It will also provide our local players with valuable exposure and experience competing at a high level,” said the 31-year-old, a regular on the ADT since 2023.

“Playing on the ADT has been an incredible experience. It’s competitive, yet there’s a sense of camaraderie among players. The opportunity to travel, meet golfers from around the world, and play on diverse courses has been invaluable to my growth as a professional,” he added.

Lguirati shared some insights into the two venues, Samanah and Al Maaden, crafted by Nicklaus Design and Kyle Phillips respectively. “Both courses are challenging but in different ways. At Samanah, precision is key as the desert-style layout demands accuracy off the tee. Al Maaden, on the other hand, requires excellent short-game skills due to its strategic design and tricky greens.”

Ayoub Lguirati of Morocco – looking forward to welcoming fellow Asian Development Tour professionals on the Tour’s first visit to the African continent.

The field of 132 at Samanah includes 30 Moroccan players consisting of 12 professionals and 18 amateurs. Lguirati and Soufiane Dahmane earned their starts through the ADT’s country exemptions, while the rest got in as regional exemptions (25 players) and tournament invitations (three players). The local players will be up against a strong international contingent, including 2025 ADT winners Gabriele De Barba of Italy, Suradit Yongcharoenchai of Thailand, Aidric Chan of the Philippines and Pakistani Ahmad Baig, as well as Asian Tour stalwarts Siddikur Rahman of Bangladesh and Berry Henson of the United States.

Lguirati noted that the events will help spur golf’s growth in Morocco, where the game has already taken strong root. “We have a solid foundation, thanks to the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation’s efforts. Promising amateurs like Adam Bresnu and Hugo Trommetter are showing great potential, and I believe they will represent Morocco on the international stage soon,” he said.

Off the golf course, Lguirati hopes that the players will find time to take in the exotic sights, sounds and tastes of Marrakech. “Marrakech is a vibrant city with so much to offer. I would highly recommend visiting Jemaa el-Fnaa, the Medina, and the Majorelle Garden. For something unique, a trip to the Atlas Mountains can be a memorable experience. Moroccan cuisine is world-renowned, and players should definitely try dishes like tagine, couscous and pastilla. Msemen, which is a Moroccan pancake, with honey or mint tea is a must!”

Having mustered a best ADT finish of joint fourth at the Toyota Tour Championship in Malaysia last November, Lguirati is hungry for his first title – and where better to achieve that feat than on home soil. “Winning an ADT event in Morocco would mean everything to me. It would be a dream come true to achieve this milestone in front of my home crowd, representing my country!”

Ken Kudo, General Manager of the ADT, lauded the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation for their vision and commitment. “It has been a privilege and an honour indeed to collaborate with the dedicated folk at the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation, whose foresight and dedication to the growth of golf have been key to bringing the two Morocco Rising Stars Marrakech events to fruition. We are extremely grateful for this opportunity to bring our tour to the beautiful nation of Morocco. I would also like to thank the Arab Golf Federation for their partnership and look forward to greater cooperation in the future.”