RIYADH, 22 January 2008 — Lebanon put on another inspired performance, led this time by the veteran Rashid Aqoul, to grab the solo lead after the second round yesterday in the 28th Pan-Arab Golf Championship at Dirab Golf Club here.
Aqoul, 49, produced the day’s low round with 72 (36-36) to help Lebanon compile a second round total of 226. Together with their first round 234, Lebanon totaled 460 after two days, two strokes clear of first-round co-leaders Bahrain, who were on 462 after a 228 yesterday.
Nine strokes further back on 471 were Egypt who returned a 233 built around a 77 from Amr Abul Ela and a pair of 77s from Mamdouh El Sheikh and Taymour Scarello.
Kingdom No. 1 Othman Almulla did better with a 2-over 74 to spark the hosts’ determined push to at least finish in the top three as the veteran Ali Belhareth and Mubarak Al-Ghamdi also bounced back with 81 and 80.
Saudi Arabia had a 235 on the day to move up a notch to fifth place in a tie with Tunisia, who returned a 240 thanks to the 79 by Hassine Wallani, 80 by Hatem Naser and 81 by Maher Ferjani.
Oman team, who had to travel to Dubai for the qualifying event for their players because the three grass golf courses being built in the country are still to be completed this year and in 2009, also did climb up the leaderboard to fourth position on 472.
A steady round from the trio of Abdullah Mohammad, the brothers Hamed Al Rumhy and Azzan Al Rumhy, who all shot 76s gave Oman a second round total of 228.
Lebanon, looking to secure their breakthrough victory in this four-member team three to count competition, received a 1-over 73 from Ali Hammoud and 81 from Adnan Hammoud.
Aqoul, a technical adviser with the Lebanese Golf Federation, narrowly missed an eagle two on the par-4 fifth hole when his second shot tantalizingly landed within centimeters of the cup. He had five birdies against a double bogey and three bogeys.
“We’re playing good and I hope it continues,” said Lebanon’s non-playing captain Marwan El-Koussa. “The next two days gonna be tough. I think it’s between us and Bahrain for the championship,” he added.
One of the big names of Arab golf, Bahraini Nasser Yacoub, said, “Don’t worry we’ll take the lead from Lebanon tomorrow” after he was told Lebanon had taken the lead in the gross team event of the annual tournament.
Saying he played an up and down round, Yacoub managed to have his 78 count along with the 76 by Hamad Mubarak and 74 by Sultan Abdullah.
In the gross individual race, Lebanese Hammoud opened a five-stroke lead over Egyptian Abul Ela after his second round 73 gave him a two-day total of 145. Abul Ela was on 150, two strokes in front of another Lebanese Aqoul, while Sultan Abdullah and Othman were tied on 153.
In the net team and individual events, Oman and Aqoul showed the way with 457 and 144.
Meantime, Saudi Golf Committee President and Dirab golf course owner Khaled Abunayyan was appointed vice president during the annual meeting of the Arab Golf Federation yesterday.
Also, the federation said the GCC men’s and junior championships would be held April 16 to 20 at the Riyadh Golf Course near Riyadh.
