Hwan, Sardar rule Zahid Tractor Open at Dirab
The Best Gross and Best Net winners Jo Tae Hwan and Tariq Sardar with, from left, Waleed, Bouchaib El Jadiani, Nasser Uddin Siddiqui and Yousuf Talal Zahid. (AN photo)
Published: Jan 27, 2012 22:16 Updated: Jan 28, 2012 23:36
RIYADH: Korean Jo Tae Hwan, taking time out from his duties at the Kingdom Dirab Golf Academy, won Best Gross honors on Friday in the 5th Annual Zahid Tractor Open Golf Tournament at the Dirab Golf & Country Club on the outskirts of Riyadh.
Sharing center stage with the president and head instructor of the golf academy was Pakistani golfer Tariq Sardar who enjoyed one of his finest rounds thus far in pleasantly cool weather conditions to clinch the Best Net title.
Hwan, with an 8 handicap, fired a 2-over 74 on the flat but challenging layout to win on countback from compatriot M. S. Kim by carding a better back nine score of 36 to Kim’s 38.
The tournament kicked off the 2012 season at DGCC, which is again set to enjoy a banner year with events already booked until November including four in March. Prizes totaling SR70,000 were at stake in Friday’s tournament the conduct of which so impressed Zahid Group of Companies General Manager Yousuf Talal Zahid that in his speech during the awards ceremony he committed sponsorship for next year’s event and make it an annual fixture at Dirab.
Dirab golf course owner and Saudi Golf Federation President Khaled Abunayyan thanked the whole Zahid family for helping grow the game of golf in Saudi Arabia, according to DGCC Golf Manager Bouchaib El Jadani.
In winning a tournament at Dirab on his first attempt Hwan effectively became the best pitchman for the academy which uses the world renowned Korean technology in helping golfers of all skill levels improve their game.
Hwan mixed three birdies, one double bogey and three bogeys in his 38-36 round. He opened with a double bogey seven on the first hole followed by consecutive bogeys but recovered with back-to-back birdies on eigth and nine for a 38 going out. After a bogey on 10 and birdie on No. 12 Hwan parred the rest of the holes in a steady back nine display.
A scratch golfer and taekwondo master, Kim settled for the First Division (0-9 handicap) title on 74 with Finlay Graham and Saudi national team player Fahad Almansour taking second and third place on 75 and 76, respectively.
George Simpson won the Second Division (10-18) on countback from Kevin Hanlon after both players tied on 69. One stroke back in third place was Graham Gunn.
The Third Division crown went to Mohammed Benamar who edged out David Mlglashan. Benamar, area manager of Radisson Blue Hotel, tallied 73 while Mlglashan had 74. James Kennedy was third on 76.
The Ladies Division winner was also decided via the countback when two tied on 68 with Mi Ra Jung taking first place and Myung Ok Hwangbo second place.
The awards for longest drive went to Will Richards in the men’s division and Hwangbo in the ladies division and closest to the pin to Sardar, who came breathtakingly close to the hole-in-one prize on No. 7.
Winning the handsome raffle prizes of Adams Idea irons set, Cobra metal wood, training putter and shoe bag were Mlglashan, Kennedy, Rami Alsaihati and Simpson.
Dirab Golf Committee Chairman Nasser Uddin Siddiqui handed out prizes to the winners during the awards ceremony.
