RIYADH, 30 March 2005 — Saudi national golf team captain Ali Ahmed Balharith and five others including two ladies made the grade during the Saudi Arabia qualifying round last Friday in the Belle Mare Plage Challenge Cup.
The Saudi leg hosted by Dirab Golf and Recreation Center is one of 13 being held at 12 golf clubs in United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and the Kingdom between Dec. 2004 and April 2005.
The six qualifiers (two ladies and four men) from each club move on to the May 7 final at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club where a 10-day trip to paradise island of Mauritius in Dec. awaits the winners. While in Mauritius they will stay at luxurious Belle Mare Plage The Resort and will be entered to play in the Mauritius Open Pro-Am.
Balharith shot a sparkling four-over par 76 he sprinkled with birdies on holes No. 3, 10, 11 and 18 to qualify as the Best Gross winner from First Division (0-15 handicap).
Joining Balharith from First Division as Best Net winner was Filipino ace Edwin A?onuevo, a 10 handicapper who tallied an even par 72. He actually tied 12-handicapper Robert Lyall but advanced via the countback. A?onuevo birdied the ninth hole and made eight pars.
The Second Division qualifiers were Best Gross and Best Net winners Mudit Saxena and Ian Stewart who fired 88 and 65 respectively.
The two ladies who qualified were Korean Woo Hee-choi and American Laura Collins.
Woo had the Best Gross score of 85 while Collins returned the top Best Net tally of 76.
The tournament also awarded prizes for the longest drive to Clark Windrose and Woo and closest to pin to Yousaf Al Mafouz and Yoon Yong Sook.
A total of 112 golfers, 25 per cent of them Saudis, competed in the Saudi qualifying tournament of the region’s prestigious amateur event now on its third year.
Saudi Golf Federation chairman and Dirab golf course owner Khaled Abunayyan graced the prize distribution ceremony. DGRC Golf Division Manager Bouchaib El-Jadiani and his staff organized the tournament.
