Arellano won the Best Gross title, shooting a 4-over 77 on the rolling layout of RGC in windy conditions.

The event was delayed by an hour because of bad weather. Twenty minutes before the scheduled 7 a.m. shotgun start strong winds that gusted up to 100 kph and rain hit the course and forced a new 7:30 a.m. start. But the pelting rain was just too much that after only two holes RGC Golf Director V. T.M. Rafi and club captain Julian Bennet called the players back to the clubhouse.

The skies cleared after a 30-minute wait and the hunt for prizes was on.

Paired with New Bennet and Indian Anjum Mulla, Arellano played the front nine in one over after a bogey on the par-3 fourth hole. He was well in control on the back nine until three straight bogeys from 11 sullied what could have been a better round. Arellano, who was winless in the recent past,  carded nines of 37-40.

Cannon, a 13 handicap golfer, won by one stroke from Dutch teenager Valentin Graus in the 0-14 handicap category after shooting a net score of 70 from a gross 83 (42-41).

Graus, 16, a diplomat’s son who studies at the British International School in Riyadh and another in a line of good young players at RGC,  fired 71 from a gross 80 (38-42) to take the  first runner-up position. RGC Committee member Phil Jenkins from BAE Systems was second runner-up on 73. A 12 handicap, Jenkins tallied a gross 85 (45-40).

The Division B (handicap 15-21) title went to 19 handicap Pakistani Shaweel Ahmed Said who came through with the best net score of 7-under 66.

Said, who works at STC, played good golf despite the winds to beat fellow Pakistani Omar Querishi by one stroke. Querishi (67) was three clear of second runner-up Casey Blatch who returned a 70.

Tony McManus, a 24 handicap, posted a no pickup card of 92 (46-46) for 41 points that gave him the Division C (22-28) Stableford format crown. In second place on 38 points was a 28 handicap Japanese competing for the first time at RGC, Hivoyui Ichikawa, while Filipino Rene Layug, a great RGC supporter,  managed to break into the win column by pooling 37 points at third place.

The Ladies Division winners were Georgia Coughlin 36 points, Korean N. Y. Kim 34 and Canadian Ruby Klawikowski 33.

South African Mark Campbell nabbed the award for nearest to the pin in the tournament sponsored by Lurpak Co. through Production Manager Vagn Aage Jensen and Marketing Manager Fadi Assaker.

A total of 102 players participated in the tournament organized by Rafi with support from Jayakaran.