Dubai Creek and Yacht Club’s David Gray launched an amazing back-nine comeback to birdie four of the last five holes and win the Fifth UAE Professional Golfers’ Association Order of Merit Event at Arabian Ranches.The UAE Professional circuit has become extremely competitive this season with a sharp increase in prize money thanks to the generous backing of patrons Al Naboodah, Rotana Hotels, IHP and SpenglerFox. And that competitiveness is shining through at every Order of Merit Event.

Jamie Wood (Emirates Golf Club) set the pace early on and was one-under par at the turn. He had soon extended his lead to two under after birdieing the par-five 13th, while shortly before that Gray had stood on the 14th tee at three-over par and his chances of winning seemingly slim.

Gray then found the key to the tricky Ranches layout by keeping his ball firmly in the fairways and out of the desert scrub.

He first rolled in a birdie three at the 14th and in going for the green at the 299-yard 15th, left himself with an up and down for birdie to take him back to just one over for the round.

Meanwhile Wood found trouble on the 14th and a double-bogey six meant that Gray was now just one shot adrift.

Gray seized his chance tucking home another birdie on the par-five 16th and his two on the short par-three 17th put him into the lead. Another bogey for Wood meant Gray, who had a great chance to close out the 18th with another birdie, but for once missed a putt, had a two-shot cushion as he finished on one-under par 71.

The incredible turnaround for Gray was not the only drama for the affable Scot on the day. Earlier he became snarled up in the infamous Arabian Ranches roundabout early morning rush-hour traffic and was afraid he might miss his 7.40am tee time. “It was queuing all the way back up Emirates Road and I had to dash straight to the tee without any warm-up,” said Gray, whose game got steadily hotter from then on.

“I didn’t miss a green on the back nine,” he said. “And I kept out of the desert.”

Wood was contented with second place, despite leading for so long. “I’ve not had the chance to play much lately,” he said. “We had one of the professional leave Emirates recently and the rest of us have been picking up all his lessons.

“If you had offered me that round on the first tee I would have taken it.

“It was just a shame that returned such a solid card without really holing a putt.”

Tied for third place on two-over par 74 were Graeme Bell (Four Seasons Golf Resort) who followed up his stunning victory on his home course in the Fourth Order of Merit Event where he shot a four-under par 68, with another consistent display, and Stephen Hubner (Dubai Creek).

“The course was tough today,” said Hubner. “It played quite long with difficult pins and there was some great scoring out there. A 71 for David with four birdies in the last five holes is fantastic golf.”

Fifth UAE PGA Order of Merit event (Arabian Ranches, par 72).

Top 10 placings 71 David Gray (DCGYC);

73 Jamie Wood (EGC);

74 Graeme Bell (Four Seasons), Stephen Hubner (DCGYC);

75 Justin Parsons (TMD);

76 Simon Mees (DCGYC);

77 Paul Dennis (Abu Dhabi GC);

78 Francois Woolfardt (ARGC);

79 Stephen Sweeney (TMD); Luke Cantelo (TMD).