RIYADH, 22 April 2006 — Ganet Berta, a 20-something dynamite of a golfer, scored one of the most comprehensive victories here to become overall champion yesterday in the Banque Saudi Fransi (BSF) April Monthly Medal golf tournament. A severe sandstorm lashed the Dirab Golf Club course just hours after a storm unleashed by a human, Hurricane Ganet, destroyed the 104-man field and left a lot of bruised egos in the Stableford full handicap format event.
Berta, an Ethiopian woman golfer who has dramatically improved since picking up the game less than two years ago, pooled an amazing 46 points, the equivalent of 10- under-par in stroke play, in a prodigious display of shotmaking.
“I worked hard not to lose my concentration and I guess my patience paid off,” said the Berta, who beat three mens from the BAE Systems in a practice round on the eve of the tourney, according to her mentor Ray Chaplow.
With a 16 handicap, Berta took advantage of her handicap holes to shoot net eagles for 4 points at the first, second and 15th holes for nines of 24 and 22 points. A double bogey for zero point on the 11th was the only spot in an otherwise near flawless round by Berta.
The breakout performance also gave her the title in the Women’s Division where Hwan Abrahaley took the second position on 35 points and Ruby Klawikowski third place on 34. It was another good day of scoring at the topnotch Dirab layout with Filipino 20- handicapper Jess Manalo and 13-year old Peter Matthews, son of Dirab Golf Committee chair Tom Matthews, each made 44 points to win the Second Division (15-28 handicap) and Junior Division.
Hamed Ali, with an 11 handicap, compiled 43 points under the Stableford system of scoring that awards 1 point for a bogey, 2 for par, 3 for birdie and 4 for eagle, as he ruled the First Division (10-14) where Filipino Edwin Anonuevo’s 42 stood as the leading score until Ali checked in his score.
Anonuevo settled for the second spot while Jeff Goble placed third on 41 via the countback over Rashid Ali.
Finishing second to Manalo on 42 was Peter Foster with Mark Boyd in third on 41.
Arthur Parcevaux was the Junior Division second placer followed by South African Michael Steyn and Hestia Maillet on 40, 34 and 25 points in that order.
Eric Liquigan and Eveline Hayler captured the straight drive awards in the men’s and women’s division, while Pete Kemp bagged the nearest to pin plum. The lucky raffle draw winner of the return air ticket to any point in Europe courtesy of Air France was OR Madarat senior cameraman Noel Alipoyo.
The division winners each received a highpriced Ping driver although Bert received a huge trophy in addition to the golf equipment.
Khaled Abunayyan, Dirab golf course owner and president of Saudi Golf Committee and BSF Managing Director Jean Marimon handed out the prizes during the awards ceremony.
They were assisted by Dirab Golf Club Manager Bouchaib El Jadiani, committee member Nigel Perry and sponsorship coordinator Andrea Corbett. Also in attendance were Air France executives Bassam F. Jallad, director of sales for Saudi Arabia, and Redouan Idrissi, commercial attaché.
