RIYADH, 23 April 2008 — The team of Ali Al-Khalf and Mohammed Benamar shot a sparkling 6-under 66 for a one-stroke victory on Friday in the 11th Xerox Corporate Golf Challenge at Dirab Golf Club.
More than 100 players divided in teams of two each battled difficult conditions as a result of severe overnight sandstorm in the best ball better ball format competition.
Organized by Troon Golf for the fifth year running the event is even stronger with 9 qualifiers across the Middle East including Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Kuwait and Qatar. Following the final at Abu Dhabi Golf Club in December, the overall winners will play in the 2009 Abu Dhabi Golf Championship Pro-Am, of which Xerox is a proud sponsor.
Once again, the event’s sponsors are second to none: HSBC, the world’s local bank, & Dell, the world’s leading computer systems company, continue as the main sponsors. Other sponsors include Crystal Gallery, Ecco & Renaissance Dubai Hotel. Khaleej Times is the tournament’s official newspaper, Middle East Golfer is the official golf magazine and Coast 103.8FM is joining as the official radio partner for 2008. At the Middle East Golfer Awards in January, The Xerox Corporate Golf Challenge was officially recognized as the Middle East’s leading corporate golf event.
With the win Al-Khalf and Benamar advanced along with winners of the other qualifiers across the Middle East into the final in Abu Dhabi late this year.
Jim Kennedy and Sean Boyd took second place on 67 with the pair of Hirubalan VO and Bernard Nolan in the third position on 68.
The awards for the longest drive went to Askari Naqvi in the men’s division and Eveline Hayler in the ladies division, while Mark Duda and Malcolm Hayler nabbed the closest to pin accolades. The lucky winners of the raffle draw were Sandy Gupta, Peter Brigges and Didier Degret. Gupta was the biggest winner of a Xerox office machine, Brigges took home a Ping wedge and Degret received a G.N. duffel bag.
Xerox executives who attended the event included Ayman Matter, regional marketing manager Middle East and A. Halim Amora, marketing manager Saudi Arabia. Peter Dedie, president of Olayan Co. that represents Xerox in Saudi Arabia, and Troon Golf organizer Khalas Boon also came for the event.
