RIYADH, 8 March 2008 — Mansoor Tirmizi played the inaugural Royal Air Maroc Golf Trophy like it was made-to-order for him, winning the overall title in style at the Dirab Golf Club yesterday.
Tirmizi was in a zone to shoot a sparkling 9-under net score of 63 as he bested the field in clinching the coveted silverware in the competition played in excellent conditions.
“I was just straight, stayed out of trouble. I was OK,” said Tirmizi of his major victory.
Tirmizi, the chief financial officer at SABB, was also the Second Division (11-19 handicap) champion. A 17 handicap golfer, Tirmizi fired one of his best rounds at Dirab, an 80, on nines of 40-40. A birdie on the par-4 14th hole was the highlight of Tirmizi’s round.
And the day simply belonged to Tirmizi as he also nabbed the prize for the single shot accuracy or nearest to pin on No. 11.
Tirmizi described his golf career as “fits and starts” though he did enjoy playing in Manila’s finest golf courses, among them Manila Golf Club and Wack Wack, while in the Philippines from 1994 to 1998 as Citibank’s CFO.
Along with the other division winners, Tirmizi won return air tickets to Morocco with free hotel accommodation. They will represent Dirab in the biggest amateur golf team championship to be organized in the old Moroccan city of Fes and featuring golfers from all over the world.
“The winners are most welcome to experience the hospitality and golf in Morocco,” said Abdelkader Boujdoun, regional manager Central and Eastern Area of Royal Air Maroc. “There are 15 golf courses in Casablanca, Tangiers, Fes and other cities in Morocco,” said Boujdoun.
The Royal Air Maroc Golf Trophy to be held in April in Fes is the airline’s contribution in the government’s efforts to promote golf tourism in Morocco, according to Boujdoun.
Boujdoun attended the prize giving ceremony along with the officials of the Moroccan Kingdom Embassy Riyadh.
Alaadine Benhadi, counselor/Consular Affairs officer, came on behalf of the ambassador. Counselors Moulaz Idris Idrissi and Ahmed Al Jaferi were also present.
Saudi Golf Federation president and Dirab golf course owner Khaled Abunayyan thanked Royal Air Maroc for sponsoring another big event at the club.
Familiar faces dominated the winners’ list with M.S. Kim and Mark Duda, two of the best players at the club, winning the Best Gross crown and First Division (0-10) title on 71 and 69. Somchit Nakhong and Watson Geoffrey were the runner-up and third place on countback after both finished on 71.
Geoff Lockwood and Paul Hansen rounded out the first three winners in the Second Division on 70 and 72.
Filipino Noel Alipoyo, a senior cameraman at OR Madarat, rediscovered his winning form to shoot the second best net score of 67 and become the Third Division (19-28) champion.
With a remarkable short game, the portly Alipoyo had nines of 43-44 in a splendid round that was only sullied by a 10 on the par-5 No. 9.
Runner-up to Alipoyo was Ron Porter on 67 with another Filipino Jun Paner in third place on 70.
The Ladies Division title went to Korean Chan Hwi Lee with a 68, while Japanese Mitsuyo Saito and Japanese Sue Lockwood took the next two places on 71 and 72.
Khalid Eddiweesh emerged the Junior Division champion on 73 with Faisal Salhab and Abdulrahman Al-Mansour grabbing the second and third positions on 74 and 76.
The longest drive awards went to Peter Briggs in the men’s division and Saito in the ladies division.
Moroccan handicraft items were raffled off as well as two air tickets to Morocco won by Ibrahim Zailon and Aelis Sarieddine.
Also yesterday, Dirab Golf Club Manager Bouchaib El Jadiani awarded the prizes for the Nations Cup 2007 and Match Play 2007.
The Lebanese husband and wife tandem of Talal and Aelis Sarieddine won the Nations Cup with the Thai duo of Somchit and Vinij Singonont runners-up, while Richard Devore and Sue Mature were the men’s and ladies Match Play winners.
