RIYADH, 8 December 2007 — Filipino Cris Agunos joined the exclusive circle of a few good men to win overall titles at Dirab Golf Club with a resounding victory in the Alsalam Aircraft Golf Championship yesterday.
Playing a near-flawless golf on a beautiful morning yesterday in which a light cool breeze brought joy to the players, Agunos posted a sparkling 5-under net score of 67.
That gave Agunos the Second Division (11-18 handicap) championship and overall honors as well in the 18-hole full handicap stroke play competition sponsored by Alsalam Aircraft Company.
“I felt I couldn’t do anything wrong,” said Agunos, an 18-handicap who put together a tidy nines of 41-44 where he never had a double bogey.
Garry Baber claimed the Best Gross honors, navigating the 6,755 yards layout in 5-over 7, with Sam Montgomery leading the first three winners in the First Division (0-10 handicap) on 72. Hamad Salim and Somchit Nakhong took the second and third positions on 74 and 76.
Patrick Kennedy and Nadeem Mirza were second and third behind Agunos in the division on countback after both players returned 71s.
Kamran Khaled won the Third Division (19-28) with a 72, while Takashi Saito and Vincent Barnes clinched the second and third spots on 73 and 76.
Using a Cleveland 10.5 degrees HiBORE driver he bought during his recent trip to the US, Agunos hit just one wayward drive on No. 18 when his ball found the rough on the right side. He played out, reached the green in three and two-putted for bogey.
Sacrificing a little distance for accuracy in a clever course management because of the thick rough on each side of the fairways, Agunos was 5-under for his handicap going into his last hole.
“I carefully avoided trouble when I came to the last hole 5-under,” said the credit officer with SABB.
Stepping on the teebox at par-5 No. 9 to finish his round, Agunos hit a 270-yard drive straight down the middle of the fairway.
He pulled out a six-iron instead of a fairway wood for his second shot because he usually tops his wood shots, and then dumped his pitching wedge from 90 yards to within six feet before holing out in two for par. Luck also was on Agunos’ side. On the difficult par-5 15th hole he saved par when he chipped in from the fringe of the green. This was the turning point of the game for Agunos whose confidence level grew after that hole. Mitsuyo Saito claimed the Ladies Division crown after shooting a level par 72 with Hewan Abrahaley and Susan Mature coming in second and third on 73 and 79.
In the Junior Division, Mansour Al-Mansour, Hestia Maillet and Khaled Attieh were the first three winners. The first two places were decided on countback after Mansour and Maillet both tallied 73, while Attieh, who especially traveled from Jeddah for this event, carded 77.
In addition to the trophies and handsome prizes of golf merchandise, two SUVs also went on offer as hole-in-one prizes on No. 11. A total of 111 players participated.
Present during the awards ceremony were Khaled Abunayyan, president of Saudi Golf Committee and Dirab course owner and executives from Alsalam namely Chairman Prince Faisal Al-Farhan and CEO Mohammad Nour Talata. Dirab Golf Manager Bouchaib El Jadiani and his staff put together the event in cooperation with the Dirab Golf Committee.
