GOLF – AHMED Al Zayed was crowned champion of the 60th Bahrain Open at Awali Golf Club (AGC) yesterday, while Helen Woollacott claimed the title in the 36th Bahrain Ladies Open.
The pair of 36-hole competitions wrapped up after two exciting days of play at the Gulf’s oldest golf course, with Al Zayed securing back-to-back crowns and Woollacott taking her first championship triumph.
Nearly 100 golfers of various nationalities competed in the two events.
Al Zayed was the star man yesterday after carding a one-under-par 69 to finish with a total of 143 over two rounds – just one shot ahead of fellow-Bahrain national team golfer and runner-up Khalifa Duaij Alkaabi.
The pair were playing in the same group after finishing day one tied, four strokes behind overnight leader Sultan Abdulla Al Hakam.
It was a tight ending to the men’s event, as Briton Matthew Chalmers, AGC’s former professional, was classified third overall just a stroke further behind Alkaabi.
“My score today was much better than yesterday – I holed a lot of putts today, the weather was less windy, and that’s why I got a good result,” Al Zayed told the GDN.
Al Zayed was already three shots under after the front nine and despite three bogeys over the back, was able to do enough to come away with his title-clinching total.
“I won by one shot; Khalifa and I were in the same group today, and on the last hole, I was leading by two and he made a birdie, but I played for the par and that got me the win,” explained Al Zayed. “Khalifa had some mistakes on the back nine, was unlucky on some holes with some bogeys, but he played so well today.
“For myself, I just had to trust my play after the first round. This is golf, the leader had more pressure than our group today, so we were relaxed. He saw what our scores were on the front nine, and it may have made a difference – made him think too much.”
Of the difference between winning last year to this year, Al Zayed said: “Last year, it was a little tougher for me because I was tied heading into the 18th hole, but this year, I was leading.
“It was always my dream to win the Bahrain Open, and after winning last year and, alhamdallah, again this year, I have now won it twice, and inshaallah next year, I will defend it again and hopefully win for a third time.”
Ali Al Kowari was ranked fourth on the 60th Bahrain Open final standings with a 147 total – four shots behind Al Zayed – while one shot further back was Al Hakam. Manaf Yousif Al Murbati was ranked sixth with a 150 score, while Saleh Al Kaabi was seventh on 151.
Meanwhile, Woollacott secured the ladies’ title after carding an 88 yesterday to finish with a 181 total over two days. She triumphed by three shots from runner-up Susan Scott, while a further shot back in third was Hanne Hansen.
“I wasn’t leading coming into the second day, so it was a bit of a surprise to win,” Woollacott told the GDN.
“I had a good first nine holes today, but then I started tiring towards the end, so the last three or four holes, I didn’t feel as though I was playing that well, but I managed to keep a steady game.
“Just my luck at the end of the day, I think. I really had no idea I could win. I was just hoping I would come third or fourth if I carried on playing okay, so that was in my head.”
Last year’s winner Sarah Hobday came fourth with a 190 total, while Bahraini youngster Fatima Albunni made tournament history by placing fifth with a 191 score. Cristina Fantechi completed the top six with a 197 total.
Following the completion of play yesterday, an awards ceremony was held, attended by AGC captain Steve Newall, 60th Bahrain Open tournament director Anurag Bajaj, 36th Bahrain Ladies Open tournament director Nathan Sundaresan, and other officials.
The weekend’s events at AGC were sponsored by Bapco Energies, InterContinental Bahrain, The Banz Group, Gulf Air, Seef Dental, American Mission Hospital, BFC, Reza Hygiene, and Coca-Cola.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
Other Winners
Bahrain Open: Best Gross Day One, Khalifa Mohammed Al Meraisi (72); Best Gross Day Two, Abdulrahman Al Shaikh (72); Net Winner, Jasper Meinema (72+68=140); Net Runner-up, Ateeq Mujali (62+79=141); Best Net Day One, Sun Kyu Kwak (68); Best Net Day Two, Adel Ali Al Fayyadh (69); Plate Winner, Adnan Al Sowaidi (69); Plate Runner-up, Stephen Hawkins (69); Plate third place, Nathan Prince (70); Best gross, Rashed Al Qutami (79)
Bahrain Ladies Open: Best Net Day One, Beth Robinson (75), Best Net Day Two, Nadia Schwerm (74); Overall Best Net, Julie Mclean (72+71=143)
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