RIYADH, 27 May 2007 — Fahad Al-Mansour and Khalid Attieh, a rising star and future star of Saudi golf, stole the show in the DHL Open Golf Championship at the Dirab Golf Club on Friday here.

Al-Mansour upstaged some of the best shotmakers in his division including the scratch golfer Korean M.S. Kim to shoot one of the best rounds in his young golf career.

Avoiding trouble that befell not a few tournament favorites in difficult conditions, Al-Mansour carded a two-over 75 to clinch Best Gross honors.

Al-Mansour, a 4-handicapper who was part of the Saudi national team, along with Kingdom No. 1 Othman Almulla and Sattam Al-Gosaibi, that competed in the World Amateur Team Championship in Stellenbosch, South Africa last October, credits his latest success to hard work.

Two years after taking up golf, Al-Mansour managed to bring his handicap down to single digit.

“I am spending a lot of time in the driving range. I practice often because I believe practice makes perfect,” said Al-Mansour who works with the National Commercial Bank in Riyadh as MIS (Management Information System) officer. The curly-topped Attieh traveled from Jeddah for this tournament. Attieh, 15, was well rewarded for making the trip as the promising young golfer from the Saudi junior team won the Junior Division crown in style. Attieh, who played off 15 handicap, fired an eight-under net score of 65 for a two-stoke victory over 19-handicapper Rayan Dahan, who signed for a 67, while Khalid Eddiweesh was third on 68.

Thai Somchit Nakhong clinched the First Division (0-9 handicap) title with a 74, while Mark Duda and another Thai Boonyuen Supoch placed second and third on 75 and 77 respectively. Sam Montomery emerged the Second Division (10-18) winner on countback over Richard Bisol after both players compiled 69. Filipino Mike Dy-Liacco took the third position also on countback over Mansour Tirmi and Boiet Carigma. All three finished the 18-hole stroke play competition on 70.

Claiming the Third Division (19-28) title was Kamran Khaled 69 with Tariq Sardar 70 and Tariq Javed 70 rounding out the first three winners. Lily Bullard 72, Mitsuyo Saito 76 and Ineke Vogelar 76 were the winners in the Ladies Division. Tricky pin placements and strong winds near the end of the round made life difficult for many in the full field of 100 golfers. Thirty-one players failed to break 100 including five in the Second Division.

For Oscar Domingo, an 18-handicapper, his hopes vanished when disaster struck on the sixth and seventh holes and he ended up dropping nine strokes, half his handicap in just two holes.

FGA Independence Cup

Meantime, Filipino Golf Association (FGA) President Rene Layug announced the Independence Cup 2007 Golf Tournament would be held on June 8 at the Reef Golf Club. There will be two tee times, 6 a.m. and 9 .m., in the competition being held as part of the Philippine Independence Day celebrations.

Also, a general assembly meeting and election of new set of officers will be held, according to Layug who urged all FGAers to come and enjoy the whole day affair. Players may also bring along their families.

For further details, contact Layug at 0502996885, Oscar Domingo at 0507023676 and Edwin Añonuevo at 0500166749.