RIYADH, 23 January 2008 — Rashid Aqoul chipped in for an eagle from 115 yards on the dreaded par-5 13th hole to highlight another fine round yesterday as Lebanon took a six-stroke lead going into the final round of the 28th Pan-Arab Golf Championship at the Dirab Golf Club.
Pelting rain, the extreme cold under overcast skies and the wind made for very tough playing conditions during the third round of the four-member team three to count competition featuring the best amateur golfers of the Arab world.
Aqoul, a 49-year-old big hitter, shot his second straight 72 (37-35) in a steady round where he hit 15 greens in regulation and missed only six fairways.
After hitting his drive into the rough on the right side, Aqoul punched out with a 6-iron then holed in what he called a perfect chip on the treacherous green that two days before had tortured nearly half the field.
Still, Aqoul said, “It was cold today. The wind was difficult to play and it was very strong,” of his round where he only had one bogey on No. 2.
Lebanon, who could end their long wait for a title in this annual event if they play solid today, totaled 684 after compiling the day’s best round of 224. Adnan Hammoud shot a 73 and Ali Hammoud, recovering well with a 38 after finishing the back nine, where he started, with a 41 contributed 79 toward Lebanon’s third round total.
“We hope to go all the way and bring the trophy to Lebanon,” said Lebanon’s non-playing team captain Marwan El Koussa.
Down by two at the start of the day, powerhouse Bahrain dropped a further four strokes at 690 against Lebanon as they could only total 228.
The defending individual champion Abdullah Sultan was unfazed. “There’s still one day. We’re still in the game. No problem,” he said.
Abdullah tallied 78 to go with the 74 by Yacoub Nasser and 76 by Hamad Mubarak.
Egypt seemed to have the third place in the bag in the gross team event after shooting 226 yesterday for a three-round total of 697 and a 10-stroke lead over fourth-ranked Tunisia who compiled 707.
Veteran Ali Belhareth finally came to grips with his game to shoot a respectable 75 and Fahad Al-Mansour made his score count after missing out on the reckoning the day before when he carded a matching 75 as Saudi Arabia set up the prospect of fourth place battle with Tunisia with a 709.
With Othman Almulla’s 77 the third score to count Saudi Arabia produced their best team effort so far with a 227 that was even better than Bahrain’s score.
Tunisia, with the lanky Ayman Ferjani shooting 73, Hassine Wallani 75 and Maher Fergani and Hatem Naser 77, submitted 225, second best of the day.
Mamdouh El Sheikh and Amr Abul Ela were Egypt’s 1-2 punch, scoring 72 and 74, while the youthful Teymour Scarello added 80.
The individual gross event is set for an exciting finish after the trio of Abul Ela, Aqoul, and Ali tied for the lead on 224.
Oman, bannered by the Al-Rumhy brothers Azzan (77) and Hamed (73), led after three rounds in the team net category with a 685 after a 228 yesterday that also featured a 78 by Abdullah Mohammad. In second place with 687 were Tunisia followed by Bahrain with 693. Libya’s Lofti Hoydi grabbed a two-stroke lead after 54 holes in the individual net contest after carding 72 with Oman’s Mohammad on 220.
The tournament, sponsored by Attieh Steel and Almarai Company, ends today with the awards ceremony.
