All to play for at Awali

The 48th Bahrain Open Championship will take place at Awali Golf Club on Friday and Saturday. The 36-hole stroke play competition comprises of professional and amateur golfers with a handicap of 12 or less, writes Matt Chalmers.

The championship normally attracts the best golfers in the region including Asian and European Tour professionals, Bahrain national team players and a number of others who have been recently been competing in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Tour in the United Arab Emirates.

The professional golfers will be competing for the title and cash prizes whereas the amateurs will be playing for alternative prizes including a car sponsored by Ahmed Zayani and Sons. The car will go to the first amateur golfer who registers a hole-in-one on the par three sixth hole.

Last year’s championship saw Bahrain national team player Hamad Mubarak Al Afnan fire a spectacular second round of 64 to finish on a total of 138, one shot ahead of compatriot Abdulla Sultan Al Hakam. European Tour golfer and former Bahrain Open Champion Andrew Marshall was also in the fray, but failed to birdie the 18th hole to force a play-off.

This year’s event will see Marshall return to compete for the title. Other players who will likely be towards the top of the leader board come Saturday afternoon are former champion Ali Musbah,the in-form Ahmed Al Naomi and UAE-based professional Simon Dunn.

Additionally, young Bahrain-based amateur Daniel Owen, who has recently been competing on the MENA Tour, will be keen to follow up a number of solid performances in the UAE with a good showing in the country where he learned his trade.

Awali Golf Club welcomes anyone who wishes to spectate to come down to the club over the weekend to enjoy what will no doubt be a fantastic sporting event. Awali Golf Club would also like to thank the main sponsors of the event including Projects Construction Company, Chevron, GPIC and Batelco.