RIYADH, 4 February 2008 — It’s back to normal at Dirab Golf Club after going high profile when it successfully staged the 28th Pan Arab Golf Championship.
The Almarai Golf Championship on Friday marked the resumption of monthly events at Dirab. In bitterly cold and windy conditions, Eric Liquigan, Alastair McIlroy and D.S. Kang claimed division titles in the 18-hole full handicap stroke play competition.
The tall Mark Duda was the only player to break 80, shooting 78 and running away with the Best Gross title.
And Chan Hwi Lee clinched the Ladies Division crown with a net score of 69. Mami Tsukuda came in second on 72 and Hewan Abrahaley Williams third on 77.
Liquigan, arguably the best Filipino golfer in the Kingdom, shot a net 76 to finish four shots clear of affable Frenchman Jeremy Haas, who signed for an 80, and win the First Division (0-9). Two shots further adrift in third place was Gary Barber.
Liquigan, a long-hitter with a 7 handicap, navigated the tree-lined layout nestled on the Tawfiq valley in 83, while the young Jeremy, with a 1 handicap, returned a gross score of 81. McIlroy, with an 18 handicap, emerged the Second Division (10-18) winner on 75 with Paul Hansen and Nasir Chaudhry in second and third positions on countback. Hansen and Chaudhry had a matching 76s.
Korean Kang, the only other player outside of Lee to shoot a net 69, won the Third Division (19-28) title by one from Abdussalam Rahman (70). Mark Muskett took third place on 71.
There were 92 players that teed it up on a blustery and cold Friday morning.
Grabbing the longest drive awards were Jeremy in the men’s division and Abrahaley in the distaff side. Rene Renton took the nearest to pin plum. John Moran was the biggest winner in the raffle draw when his name was called for the return air ticket to Manila, while M. S. Kim drew the raffle prize of Ping staff bag.
Almarai Company executives led by Monther Tayeb, Public Relations and Marketing chief, David Corbett, regional sales manager, and George Schorderet, attended the prize distribution ceremony. Dirab Golf Club Manager Bouchaib El Jadiani and his staff organized the tournament.
