Mauritius Open 2017 - Heritage GC

We have two European Tour events this week, both co-sanctioned (or tri-sanctioned in one case) events taking place in much sunnier climates than what we are experiencing now in Europe as Mauritius and Australia play hosts. Whilst Sergio Garcia and Marc Leishman head the market for the Aussie PGA, Louis Oosthuizen pays a visit to The Heritage GC in Mauritius where he is involved in the development of the resort. The South African is the class act of the field and should be challenged by his compatriots in the shape of former winner here two years ago, George Coetzee and Dylan Frittelli as well as Burmester and Fichardt. The field sees a number of Challenge Tour and Q-School graduates make their 2018 season debuts this week and they'll be looking to make their mark as soon as possible. (So too will Tiger in the Bahamas this week and despite the media overkill on the return, I'm sure all of us golf fans will hope that its a successful comeback this time.)

Gavin Moynihan is one such player who secured his playing rights after a very successful year that saw him starting the year having to qualify for the EuroPro tour to get some starts. Having won at Close Hall on first start on that tour he quickly followed up by a strong showing on the Challenge Tour's Andalucía Costa del Sol Match Play 9 by finishing second to Aaron Rai. Continuing on the Challenge Tour for the season, the Dubliner would eventually finish 19th in the Road to Oman Rankings before finishing TOP25 at Q-School. It's not the first time I've mentioned Gavin on this blog, and it won't be the last, as I expect Gavin to move onto greater things on Tour. Given the progression in 2017 and recent form, I'm confident he can hit the ground running and should the wind get up this week as is forecasted, I'm quietly confident the conditions and course layout will also help to get a decent result. His fellow Irish amateur and Walker Cup buddy, Paul Dunne, has excelled on tour to date and he'll be motivated and inspired to emulate the highs so far of the Greystones man. At 210.00 outright and @ 7.00 for a TOP 20 Gavin makes my staking plan this week.

I put up Darren Fichardt a number of times already this season and I'm keen to do so again this week at a decent price of 70.00 (3.50 TOP-20,6.00 TOP-10). 6th last time out in Sun City he'll be looking forward to defending the Joburg Open next week so could be in the mood to have his game in shape this week in anticipation. He's a certainly a value price this week playing on Sunshine Tour where he finished third on the Order of Merit last season.

Lastly, the defending course champion from two years ago, George Coetzee is worth a play here @ 23.00. He was in brilliant form in Sep/Oct having posted 4 TOP-15s in 5 events between the KLM Open,European,British & Portugal Masters, as well as the Italian Open. He may have cooled off a bit since but results of 27-37-58 in the Final Series can be taken into comparison towards the quality of field in front of him this week. Given the course form and price, he's worth chancing to take down Oosty here.

Staking Plan:

0.25 pts G. Moynihan @ 210.00
0.75 pts D. Fichardt @ 70.00
1.00 pts e/w D.Fichardt @ 51.00
2.00 pts e/w G.Coetzee @ 23.00

3.00 pts TOP20 G. Moynihan @ 7.00