Brandishing a brand new driver, Titleist 910, the long-hitting Salhab won the overall Best Net title on Friday in the Wartsila Golf Championship 2010 at the Dirab Golf & Country Club.
The 14-year old Salhab, one of the most promising players on the Saudi junior golf team, carded a 3-under 69 in benign conditions from a gross 76 (39-37) and 7 handicap to win by countback over Korean Yong Woo-kang who matched Salhab’s net score from gross 87 and 18 handicap.
For all his talent and rapid improvement in the game Salhab had not won until Friday and either lost by one stroke or countback. It so frustrated him that he said he would rather take third place than lost in this way.
Salhab, a ninth grade student at the American International School in Riyadh, never dropped a shot on all four par-5 holes and birdied one of those, the 569-yard No. 9, where he reached the green in two with a 5-wood after a good drive for a two-putt birdie from 20 feet.
His other birdie was what he calls a “lucky” one from 15 feet on the par-4 18 where he played safe with a 5-wood for his teeshot and his 6-iron landed on the apron of the green.
“I just kept going despite a double bogey on the par-3 fourth when my 7-iron teeshot flew the green. I have a good handicap so I figured I’ll have a chance,” said Salhab who bogeyed Nos. 5, 7, 12 and 17.
“ I really hit a nice shot with my new driver. I’m hitting it easy and straight,” said Salhab of his Titleist 910.
Along with the overall Best Net crown Faisal also took the First Division (0-9 handicap) honors ahead of Filipino Eric Liquigan who had a 72 from a gross 75 and 3 handicap. Aleen Reed was third on 74.
Yong settled for the Second Division (10-18) title. Finlay Graham and Ray McPherson were second and third in the division via the countback after both players tied on 71.
The first three winners in the Third Division (19-28) were all tied on 71 with John Davies in first place, Shamshad Siddiqui second and Mohammad Sofi third after the countback.
Paromita Mukherjee won the Ladies Division on 79 with Liz Kennedy in second position and Ruby Klawikowski in third spot on 81 and 84 respectively.
The awards for longest drive went to M. S. Kim in the men’s division and Kennedy in the ladies category and the closest to the pin to Shamshad.
Nasser Uddin Siddiqui, chairman of Dirab Golf Committee, handed over prizes to the winners during the awards ceremony.
This is the last tournament of 2010 at DGCC.
