GOLF – AFRICAN and Eastern (A&E) One took the lead in the championship flight after the first day of play in the 2024 AMH Island Classic charity golf tournament, which teed off yesterday at the private golf course of His Majesty King Hamad in Saffriya.
The high-profile, three-day event, being held in its 25th year, is taking place under the royal patronage of His Majesty, and it aims to raise funds for the community outreach programmes of American Mission Hospital (AMH).
An opening ceremony took place at noon yesterday, attended by AMH corporate CEO and chief medical officer Dr George Cheriyan, Bahrain International Golf Course Company chairman Captain Waleed Al Alawi, and other high-ranking officials representing sponsors.
A&E One rose to the top of the leaderboard ahead of A&E Two. RCSI One were in third place after day one in the championship flight, which features squads with a team handicap of six or under.
Meanwhile, in the premier flight, featuring a team handicap of 6.1 or over, Al Hawaj were in the lead after the opening day of play. AMH Amwaj were in second, while Oriental Press were third.
There were also side contests played yesterday. Saleh Ali Eid of Mohammed Jalal Catering won the closest-to-the-pin award on hole two. Rashid Salah Ali of Al Hawaj had the most accurate drive on hole eight, and he also came away with the longest putt prize on hole four.
More than 200 players representing over 50 teams are taking part in this year’s AMH Island Classic.
The other squads in action yesterday included American Express, AMH Riffa, United Gulf Bank One, United Gulf Bank Two, Black Hawks, AMH Saar, AMH Manama One, Coca-Cola, Royal Golf Club One, and Mohammed Jalal Catering.
Dr Cheriyan expressed his pride in hosting the AMH Island Classic in its landmark 25th edition.
“The event has grown tremendously throughout the years,” Dr Cheriyan told the GDN. “We are welcoming more sponsors and more golfers who are eager to be a part of the event.
“We originally had the idea of raising money to upgrade our facilities and buy new equipment at the hospital, but over the past several years, our focus has solely been on raising funds for our community outreach programmes, which have also grown.”
Dr Cheriyan expressed his deepest thanks and appreciation to His Majesty for opening his private course to Bahrain’s golfing community for the charity competition.
“This is a very unique event as His Majesty very generously allows us to hold it in his golf course,” Dr Cheriyan said. “As far as I know, there is no other tournament in this region like it.
“It is a very beautiful course and people always look forward to getting a chance to play on it while having a fun time for a charitable cause.
“His Majesty has also given us an unconditional guarantee to hold the Island Classic at this fantastic venue in the years to come. His Majesty wants us to carry on raising funds for our community outreach programmes, and we are very happy to do it.”
Of yesterday’s action, Dr Cheriyan added: “The first day of play went splendidly. Golfers enjoyed a good game on the superb nine-hole grass golf course on the first day, as the weather conditions were excellent.”
The tournament continues today and tomorrow.
GDN Media are playing in the event with a squad composed of GDN Media managing editor Stanley Szecowka, NorthStar Telecom managing director Ian Dench, Hannover ReTakaful managing director and CEO and Hannover Re Bahrain Branch general manager Olaf Brock, and cricketer George Axtell.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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