Inaugural showdown

Awali Golf Club saw the biggest competition field in years last Friday when more than 100 people turned out for the inaugural Shaikh Hashim bin Mohammed bin Salman Al Khalifa Golf Tournament.

This new 18-hole Stroke play event was postponed last year due to inclement weather, but sunshine and blue skies prevailed ensuring the day was enjoyed by all.

Whether due to the warmer temperatures, the perfect course conditions, or both, several competitors recorded their best scores of the season.

Phil Trueblood led the field to claim top position with a staggering nett 60, gross 80 and earned a well-deserved 3 shot handicap cut to boot. In runner-up position on count back was Mark Hodgkinsoncarding nett 65, gross 84 over Adnan Al Sowaidi in third with nett 65, gross73.

At the end of play, competitors gathered on the club’s terrace to enjoy time to reflect on the day’s golf before adjourning to the clubhouse for the prize-giving ceremony.

Grateful thanks go to Shaikh Hashim who kindly sponsored the day and provided the wonderful array of prizes which included golf clubs, trolleys and bags, said club captain, Bill Scarth, who also praised course manager Pete Rogers and his ground staff as they have been working extremely hard in recent weeks in preparation for the upcoming Opens Championships in March.

Full results were as follows:

Flight 1

1st place: Saad Al Binkhalil (nett 66, gross 71)

2nd place: Ali Mohd. al Kowari (nett 67,gross 77)

3rd place: Jelmer Hoff (nett 69, gross 79)

Nearest the pin on Hole 6: Salah Al Shaer

Abdulrahman Moh’d Amin was just outside the prizes in this flight but lucky enough to score a hole-in-one becoming the 3rd person this season to achieve this.

Flight 2

1st place: Nasser Eid (nett 67, gross 79)

2nd place: Adel Al Gaoud (nett 67, gross82)

3rd place: Bill Scarth (nett 68, gross 81)

Nearest the pin on Hole 12: Pete Rogers

Flight 3

1st place: Kwang B Kim (nett 66, gross 86)

2nd place: San Oak Nam (nett 67, gross 98)

3rd place: Phil Morrison (nett 69, gross95)

Nearest the pin on Hole 4: Kerry Diaper

On Saturday, the Greens/Browns Challenge took place. First held in 2011 but having been removed from the fixture list for a couple of years, it was resurrected by the clubs’ captains and coaches this year.

In contrast to the previous day, grey cloudy skies and cold temperatures dampened the course but not the spirits of the competitors.

Ten pairs from the Royal Golf Club and Awali Golf Club participated in the friendly Matchplay event whereby the teams played the back 9 holes at RGC followed by the same at AGC.

The differences in the courses are well known but everybody enjoyed the varying challenges that each had to offer.

The result was not as close as in previous years with RGC extending its unbeaten record for the fourth year with a win of7 ½ - 2 ½.