Almansour won the First Division (0-9 handicap) during the Saudi leg last Friday of the Golden Ticket qualification series for the tournament hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah at the Dirab Golf & Country Club.

Joining Almansour as the four winners to receive invitations to participate in the 2012 European Tour-sanctioned one-day Pro-Am event were Rak Gi-lee, Trini Valencia and Korean and Miki Park who won Second Division (10-18), Third Division (19-28) and Ladies Division in that order.

His handicap now down to 8 from 14 eight months back, Abdulrahman scored his first victory with a net score of 72 since moving up to the First Division, and among those he beat was his elder brother, 3-handicap Fahad, who settled for fourth on 74 via the countback from eventual third placer Morgan Mead. Joe Tae Hwan was second on 73.

The 15-year old Abdulrahman shot a gross 80 on nines of 42-38. Abdulrahman double bogeyed two par-5s, 9 and 15, but steadied the ship with par-par-birdie on the 16th, 17th and 18th holes.

“He is in good shape, has more consistency in his game and yes, he routinely outdrives me with his 300-yard bombs,” said Fahad of the big improvement of his brother since he was under the tutelage of Korean swing coach Ivan Song.

Speaking to Arab News, Fahad figures Abdulrahman’s handicap could improve to 3 or 4 before the end of next year.

Fahad, who is also benefiting from the Korean technology being used at the academy, said the biggest problem of the young Saudi players is consistency in their game and having a coach to closely guide them over a long period of time is a big help.

“I like their way. They’re doing an excellent job teaching golfers of all skill levels. I think their system works,” said Fahad.

In winning Second Division Korean Rak carded the day’s low net of 66 from a gross score of 79 and handicap 13. Filipino Resty Sibug clinched second place on countback from Y. W. Kang after both players tied on 71 with Anjum Mulla fourth on 73 from a gross 87 and handicap 16.

The 13-handicap Rak probably played the round of his life, knocking down birdies on three, 12 and 15 to prop his nines of 41-38.

Valencia, with a 26 handicap, beat Khalid Raja by two strokes with a net score of 67 from a gross 93, while Gary Richardson and Gerry Doncarolis were third and fourth on 71 and 74.

Park had a winning score of 70 with Kata Meagher a distant second on 76 followed by Indian lady golfer Paromita Mukherjee (77) and Flore Bouzanne (78).

Filipino Eric Liquigan nabbed the men’s longest drive award while Mukherjee took home the awards for closest to the pin and ladies longest drive.

At the awarding ceremony, Dirab Golf & Country Club Golf Manager Bouchaib El Jadiani thanked the sponsors on behalf of golf course owner and Saudi Golf Federation President Khaled Abunayyan.

The Dirab qualifying round was sponsored by Emirates Airline, Carpetland, Friends of Cancer Patients, The European Tour and Zaas Construction Company with James Bowring as tournament director.