Korean taekwondo master Kim overcame bogeys on his first two holes to shoot an even par 72 in ideal playing conditions while the Japanese Nagaya, with a 24 handicap, scored the day’s low net of 65 on gross 89 (45-44).
Kim, a scratch golfer and one in a line of players with a winning record at Dirab, missed an eagle putt on the par-5 No. 9 from just one yard, which he set up with a monster 320-yard drive and 7-iron second shot.
After the turn, Kim stumbled with further bogeys on 10 and 12 but recovered with birdies on the 14th and 16th holes. In all Kim had five birdies against the same number of bogeys in his 36-36 round.
Saudi national team player Abdulrahman Almansour won by one stroke over Morgan Mead for the First Division (0-9 handicap) crown.
Almansour’s teammates on the national team, long-hitters Turki Hussain and Faisal Salhab completed the first four winners in the division. The 9-handicap Almansour, who teamed with older brother Fahad to win the Saudi National Day Championship last month, carded a net 71 on 80 gross score and 9 handicap. Mead, with a 3 handicap, fired 72 with Husssain and Salhab on 75 and 76.
The Second Division (10-18) top three was decided on countback with Mark Davies the winner followed by Anjum Mulla and Gyoung Oh Jang. Davis and Mulla tied on 68 while Jang clinched third from Paul Dart after they both tallied 71.
In the Third Division (19-28) John Morris, Arif Hussain, Joe Smith and Gary Richardson were the prize winners on 68, 69, 72 and 73 in that order.
The Ladies Division crown went to Mira Jung with a 67. Hwangbo Myungok was second on 76, Ganet Chaplow third on 78 and Martina O’ Reilly fourth on 80.
The longest drive award winners were Werner V. Raventyen in the men’s and Chaplow in the ladies division. Howard Davis claimed the closest to the pin accolade.
This is the ninth year SABB sponsored a tournament at Dirab underlining their strong partnership. On hand to present prizes, in addition to trophies, to the winners were SABB Chief Operating Officer Irshad Akhtar and Fahad Abunayyan, deputy general manager at Abunayyan Group which operates the DGCC. SABB Managing Director David Dew and Marketing Manager Abdulaziz D. Al-Shirian helped facilitate SABB sponsorship of this year’s event.
Meantime, DGCC Golf Manager Bouchaib El Jadiani announced the Emirates Airlines Inviational Golf Tournament will be held on Nov. 18.
