RIYADH: Alex Arellano gave another demonstration why he is regarded as one of the best Filipino golfers in the Kingdom, winning the Best Gross title with a rock-solid 1-under 74 on Friday in the June Monthly Open Golf Tournament at the Riyadh Golf Club off Ghassim highway on the outskirts of Riyadh.

It was the third victory for the lanky Arellano who also had a string of runner-up finishes in RGC-organized tournaments, making this 2009 season easily the finest of his career.

Arellano, with a 6 handicap, bested a slew of single-digit handicap players in good conditions with nines of 35-39. After dropping a shot on the third hole Arellano birdied 8 and 9 in a strong front nine finish.

Arellano was not yet done. RGC’s signature par-6 No. 11 was easy picking for long-hitters like Alex more so because the hole was shortened with its green under repair. He eagled this hole. Arellano recovered with birdies on 15 and 17 following successive double bogeys on the 13th and 14th holes, but then he bogeyed No. 18.

Another player to break 80 was Division A (0-14 handicap) champion Heath Bartlett, from BAE Systems, who returned a net score of 4-under 69 from a gross of 79 (42-37). Another Filipino, Ben Torrefiel, also posted 69 but had to settle for a second straight first runner-up prize in the division on countback. Torrefiel, with a 12 handicap, shot a gross 81 (42-39).

The third player in the three-way tie on 69, George Simpson, of BAE Systems, was the second runner-up. The 12-handicap Simpson matched Torrefiel’s effort of 81.

B.H. Lee led a Korean 1-2 finish in Division B (15-21) with a 70, the same score posted by compatriot B. J. Kim. The 20-handicap Lee scored a gross 90 (49-41) while Kim, with a 17 handicap, had 87 (42-45). Mohammad Fouad was the second runner-up on 71 from a gross round of 89 (46-43). The Division C (22-28) Stableford format competition had Peter Rozul, Jon Woods and Tony McMannus filling up the first three places on 41, 39 and 37 points in that order.

British woman Karen Bridgeford, a regular at the RGC, tasted her first victory in the ladies division on 41 points followed by Filipinos Puring Garcia and Evelyn Jensen on 38 and 36 points.

Mar Vera Cruz claimed the award for nearest to the pin while Ebrahim Zailon, a vertically challenged golfer but could hit the ball a mile, nabbed the longest drive plum in the tournament that attracted 95 players.

RGC Director of Golf V. T. M. Rafi awarded the prizes, which consisted of golf merchandise including Taylormade R7 driver, along with club captain Julian Bennett and Haroon Sheikh. Rafi said the next Monday Night golf event is set for July 6 and the July Monthly Open scheduled July 17. Interested golfers may call at 810-2444 ext. 221 or 0503194369 for registration.