RIYADH, 21 November 2007 — Without a doubt Mark Duda is one of Dirab Golf Club’s hottest members.
Barely a month after winning the overall title in the SABB Golf Championship, Duda won the 2007 Club Championship held at Dirab over the weekend.
The tall Duda, who played to a 4 handicap, carded a two-day total of 147, three-over on the par-72 layout nestled on the Tawfiq valley, to handily win the Best Gross honors from Richard De’Vore.
An 11-handicap, De’Vore tallied 156.
In addition to the golf merchandise and trophy Duda will have his name embroidered on a specially made shirt and engraved on the trophy. Both shirt and trophy will be on display at the clubhouse.
There were more than 60 players who teed it up in the prestigious annual event, according to Dirab Golf Club Manager Bouchaib El Jadiani. Saudi Golf Committee President and course owner Khaled Abunayyan attended the final day of the tournament and gave away the prizes and trophies to the winners.
In earning bragging rights as this year’s club champion the long-hitting Duda shot the best 36-hole score by anyone in the stroke play competition.
The ever improving and future star of Saudi amateur golf, Khalid Attieh, was the runaway winner in the Junior Division. Last May when he won in the DHL Open Attieh was 15-handicap. He is now down to a single-digit handicap of 9 and yet won by seven strokes over fellow Saudi junior team standout Abdullah Turki, who played to a 12 handicap. The Jeddah-based Attieh, 15, totalled 151 and Turki 158.
The Best Net crown in the Men’s Division went to James Shin, who compiled 141, with Geoff Lockwood runner-up on 142. Both golfers are 15-handicap. Sue Lockwood beat Japanese Mitsuyo Saito by one stroke for the Ladies Division crown. Lockwood had a two-day total of 148 to Saito’s 149.
Meantime, the 2007 Zahid Tractor Golf Championship will take place on Friday at Dirab Golf Club course. Handsome prizes and trophies are on offer in the 18-hole tournament. Another full field of at least 80 players is expected to tee it up for the event.
