Less than a month after his win at the Pakistan Day Open Davis went up to the podium again to receive the overall Best Gross trophy in the 18-hole individual stroke play competition that marked the first time SHB sponsored a tournament at DGCC.

Davis, who played college golf at Jacksonville before joining the US Air Force, shot a 3-over 75 on the flat but challenging layout. He is in the Kingdom as part of the US contingent helping train the Saudi armed forces and played his first tournament at Dirab during the 2011 Saudi Oger Amateur Golf Championship last October.

“I shot a good front nine though I missed a few putts which I should have made on 8 and 9,” said Davis.

The weather was perfect until the winds came during the final half of the event which Davis said put him in kind of “survival mode.” A 2-handicap, Davis birdied the second and seventh holes and bogeyed No. 5 for a 35 on the frontside. He had a 40 coming in when he dropped strokes on three of the last four holes and stumbled with another bogey on 10.

Still, Davis’ was the score to beat and none managed to come close with Saudi national player Omar Hariri on 78 and taekwondo master-golfer M. S. Kim on 79.

Hariri settled for the First Division (0-9) crown on countback over Mark Campbell after both players tied on net score of 72. Filipino Edwin Añonuevo took third place on 73.

The overall Best Net honors went to Hitesh Valla, who had a 68 from a gross score of 82 and 14 handicap.

Declan White was the Second Division (10-18) winner with a 69. Sean Boyd came in second on 71 and Kevin Hanlon third 72.

The Third Division (19-28) title was likewise decided via the back nine score countback with Phil Pannel the winner over Lance Jones 42-43. Both players tied after 18 holes at 69. Kapila N. took third spot on 70.

Canadian Ruby Klawikowski topped the Ladies Division with a 66 and also won the award for longest drive in her division. Runner-up to Klawikowski was Mi Ra Jung on 70 with Liz Kennedy third on 73.

Abdullah Hussain nabbed the men’s longest drive award while Eric Liquigan won the closest to pin plum.

The raffle draw prize winners were: Will Richards (handicraft with Dirab Golf logo), Kurshid Ahmed (Optari large bag), Mario Marimon (Adams Golf complete set of irons), Chris Ledwidge (Callaway golf bag) and Bernard Nolan (Saudi Hollandi Platinum Card).

SHB top brass namely Managing Director Dr. Bern Van Linder and Mohammed Al Dabbagh, general manager Strategic Planning & Program Management, attended the prize distribution ceremony. Also present was Dirab golf course owner and Saudi Golf Federation president Khaled Abunayyan who thanked SHB for its support in the promotion of golf in Saudi Arabia.