Suzanna swings away

Bahrain's young golfing sensation, Suzanna Hobday, was recently crowned champion of the 22nd Bahrain Ladies Open Golf Tournament, organised by the Awali Golf Club, writes MAI AL KHATIB.

Suzanna had participated in the Ladies Open at the Awali Golf Club for the past two years, finishing just outside the top 10.

However, third time lucky, the 17-year-old wonder made her mark in the history books by becoming the youngest Ladies Open winner. She emerged with 167 points, just three points ahead of runner-up Emma Boyd. Yvonne Newall (174) came third.

Suzanna said: "The two-day tournament had over 40 ladies competing with only three shots difference between first and second place.

"As I came up to the 18th hole I had no idea that I was leading. As I sunk my putt I still did not know that I had won although the clubhouse was cheering.

"I only realised it when so many people came up to shake my hand that I had won the 22nd Bahrain Ladies Open!"

Suzanna, who studies at St Christopher's Senior School, started playing the game at a relatively young age with plastic clubs when she lived in Kenya.

She began to take the game seriously at the age of 10 when she moved to Bahrain with a handicap of 30. Since then Suzanna had competed in many tournaments and now her handicap is 12.

In 2005, she won the Under-14 category of the Bahrain Junior Open at the old Riffa Golf Club course. In October 2009 Suzanna also won the Under-21 Expat Girls category of the Faldo Series Asia Qualifier for the Middle East. As a result she is now playing in the Faldo Series Grand Final at Mission Hills, China, in March 2010.

She has also been Golf Captain of the St Christopher's School team since September 2008 and will carry on until June 2010.

Suzanna plays at the Royal Golf Club two to three times a week either in competitions, on the driving range or just playing a round with friends. She also plays football and rugby which keep her physically fit. Although she does not have a coach if she ever needs advice, she turns to the PGA teaching professionals at the Royal Golf Club. She has also had lessons in the past through her school and from various teaching professionals.

Although studies is in the foremost of her thoughts, with ambitions to study geography at university in the UK, she also aims to keep playing the game she loves. Suzanna added: "Someday I hope to have a handicap of single figures and beat my brother, Sam, on gross! He is 15 and currently has a golfing handicap of 5. He is thinking about making golf a career."

Their mother Sarah (handicap 19) and dad Barry (handicap 5) also play at the Awali Golf Club and Royal Golf Club, Riffa Views.

Sarah also received an award at the Awali event for best gross score on day one and is very proud of her daughter's achievements. She said: "I think it's great that Suzanna plays golf and I'm very proud of her, as is Barry and Sam. The very nature of the game means that she gets to meet people from all walks of life and of all ages.

"Golf is a great leveller. As an amateur golfer, one minute you can be playing brilliantly and the next minute you play really badly - or at least I do!

"If you can accept all that with the same grace and humility then it's a good lesson in life. It can be a character-building game! I just want her to enjoy her golf and any sport that she plays for that matter.

"Suzanna is a talented all-round sports player; she was recently selected as her school's Sportswoman of the Year. She plays a nice mixture of team games and individual sports and she enjoys the social benefits that all sports bring.

"Hopefully, she'll go to university in the UK next September. I would be more than happy for her to join her university's golf or woman's rugby/football teams as I believe it's a great way to make friends and settle into a new way of life."