RIYADH: The big round came a week late for Filipino Richard Gaas. No matter the prize wasn’t less appealing as he claimed overall Best Gross title in the 2009 SABB Golf Championship at the Dirab Golf & Country Club on Friday.
Disappointed that he was unable to contend for major prizes during the prestigious 2009 Saudi Oger Amateur Golf Championship Gaas took it all out on a windless sunny day, shooting a brilliant 4-over 76 to post his biggest win so far in little over a year of tournament golf at Dirab.
Using a new driver, Ping G-15, he bought for a song from Kingdom No. 1 Othman Almulla last week the lightly built Gaas, of Saudi Oger Ltd., carded nines of 39-37.
Gaas had a rocky start on the front nine with two double bogeys and a bogey on the first five holes but recovered with birdies on six and nine. He birdied the treacherous 10th hole and did not drop a shot on the way home except for back-to-back bogeys from the 14th.
“I had no problem with the greens and my approach shots worked well. Of course, I love my new driver,” said Gaas who also romped off with the men’s division longest drive award.
Veteran German golfer Jurgen Rehfeld emerged the overall Best Net winner in the 18-hole stroke play tournament. Jurgen, with handicap 21, signed for a sparkling 6-under 66. Mohammed Subedar, with 14 handicap, actually matched Jurgen’s net score, but had to settle for the Second Division (11-18) title following a countback.
Saudi national team standout Fahad Al Mansour emerged First Division (0-9) champion with a net even par 72. First runner-up was Pakistani golfer Kamran Khan on 74 net and second runner-up was Lee Williams on 76. Fahad, with a 7 handicap, posted a gross score of 79, while the 6-handicap Khan had 80 in a tie with Williams who played off a 4-handicap.
Thai Boonyeun Supoch compiled a 68 and Scott Cummings 69 to finish second and third in the Second Division.
Winning the Third Division (19-28) was Peter Dadzis, who banged out a 70 (89-19). One stroke back in second place was 21-handicap Tariq Javed, while Alistair Mcllroy, claimed third position at 73 (92-19).
The Ladies Division crown went to Eveline Hayler, who had a net score of 71. Karen Bridgeford and Rita Dadzis rounded out the winners on 72 and 73.
Korean C.H. Lee grabbed the longest drive award ladies, while another Filipino Chris Agunos took the closest to pin award. Raffle draw winners were Amin Manieka, Ijaz Naqshbandi, Bush Daniel and Abdullah Masoud.
Dirab golf course owner and Saudi Golf Federation President Khaled Abunayyan and the management team of tournament sponsor SABB represented by Chief Finance Officer Irshad Akhter and Arsalan Hussain attended the awards ceremony and handed over the glass trophies and prizes of golf merchandise to the winners. Dirab Golf Committee Chairman Nasser Uddin Siddiqi and Dirab Golf & Country Club General Manager Bouchaib El Jadiani also assisted in the prize giving.
