Awali Golf Club (AGC) has staged its most prestigious two-day competition of the season, the Russell & Memorial, sponsored by BAPCO.
With conditions of play requiring two rounds each of 18-holes, the Russell Cup, which commenced in 1940, is awarded for the best gross score, and the Memorial Trophy, which was inaugurated in 1959, for the best nett score.
Captain Andy McAlpine was below-par health wise and not able to play, but well enough to be present as master-of-ceremonies, joined by BAPCO’s chief executive Gordon Smith, who presented the prizes.
The variable conditions appear to have had little effect on the quality of the golf, as many excellent scores were returned that numbered in the upper-70s.
It was observed that the Captain’s demeanor was back to normal as he waved a fistful of handicap cuts, handing these out to many players, something that he has mentioned in the past as one of the more pleasurable aspects of announcing the results.
In the Russell Cup, Rashid Al Qutami took the overall honours with gross 141 (rounds of 71 and 70), with Ebrahim Al Hashel runner-up with 144 (71, 73) and Ali Musbah third with 147 (74, 73).
In the Memorial Trophy, Vidhu Mittal led the field with nett 131 (rounds of 66 and 65), followed by Rashid Al Qutami with 133 (67, 66) and Ebrahim Al Hashel 134 (66, 68).
AGC also said farewell to two of its lively members, Steve and Kerry Diaper, who are returning to England after five years in Bahrain.
