First 16 Qualifiers Win Through to Morocco Grand Final

The first 16 golfers to compete in February's grand final of the Morocco Matchplay, powered by HowDidiDo, were determined in a tense regional final at Slaley Hall, in Hexham, Northumberland.

And the qualifiers include three former title holders: Gary Catt and Eileen McMullen, from Richmond GC, in Yorkshire, who won the mixed competition two years ago, and Chris Wall, from Middlesbrough GC, who is the reigning singles champion. Indeed, Wall will be aiming for an unprecedented third success as he also won the event in 2011.

They will enjoy complimentary return flights to Morocco, six-nights' accommodation at the stunning, five-star L'Amphitrite Palace hotel, in Skhirat - with its own Atlantic Ocean beach - and five rounds of golf, including one on the prestigious Red course at the Robert Trent Jones-designed Royal Golf Dar Essalam, which hosted the last Moroccan Open in 2001, won by Ryder Cup star Ian Poulter.

Participants will also receive a welcome reception and cocktail evening, and a final night presentation gala dinner.

Four competitions culminate at the grand final, sponsored this year by the Moroccan National Tourist Office: singles, pairs, mixed pairs and senior pairs, with a total of 32 golfers, from across the UK, ultimately fighting it out for the titles. Each pair will have played up to four qualifying rounds merely to reach the regional final, with the knockout rounds taking place between June and September, and the regional finals in October.

The full line-up for the grand final, to be played from February 8-14, 2015, will be determined in the second regional final, to be played this week in one of England's prettiest villages, Castle Combe, when it's hosted by The Manor House, in Wiltshire.

For more information or to register for the competition, visit www.moroccomatchplay.co.uk.