The winning pair, with a combined handicap of 34, put together a net score of 50 in the two-person best ball medal format with 3/4 handicap allowance as they booked their spot for the grand final along with winners of the other qualifiers to be held April 26 at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai.
In all there are 10 qualifying rounds in six countries around the GCC, which began with the first round in October last year. Rolling Hills Golf Club in Dhahran hosted the fourth round on Jan. 12.
Lance Jones and Kapila N. claimed second place on 53 from a gross score of 88 and 35 handicap. John Davis and Chris Ledwidge captured the third position from Il Joong Kim and Mira Jung on countback after both pairs tied on 54.
Fifth place went to Ronny Lidman and Shujaat Nadeem on 55, the same total posted by the team of Phil Pannel and Gary Richardson which had to settle for sixth after the countback was applied to break the tie.
Jang and Yoo had nines of 43-41. The birdie on par-5 ninth must have fired up the Korean couple who was only five over coming in and a whopping 12 under on handicap for the last nine holes.
M. S. Kim, the Korean scratch golfer who teaches taekwondo for a living, took the award for longest with Jim Kennedy pocketing the closest to pin plum.
Handsome raffle draw items were given away in addition to the major prizes. The Filipino father and son Resty and Christer Rem Sibug had the luck of both winning a multifunction Xerox printer, which was also the item that Jacob Jo and Richardson took home. Irshad Akthar was another big winner in the raffle draw, carting off a complete set of Adams golf clubs. I.J. Kim and Tony Lizardo each received a gift certificate for a pair of Ecco golf shoes while Danny Naval claimed an Adams golf range ball bag.
According to Xerox Corporate Golf Challenge website, the tournament this year is sponsored by Avis Rent a Car and ABB, and co-sponsored by Park Hyatt and Villas, ECCO, Crystal Gallery, Khaleej Times as well as Troon Golf. The addition of new sponsors Park Hyatt and Villas as well as the continuation of previous sponsors highlights the growth and expansion of the tournament as well as Xerox’s commitment to the region.
During the awards ceremony, DGCC Golf Manager Bouchaib El Jadiani and Dirab Golf Committee Chairman thanked Ehab S. Guindi, general manager of Saudi Xerox, and Klaas Boon of Troon Golf, for supporting the event.
Also present during the ceremony were Jean Marc Delpon De Voux, president Olayan Group; Saudi Xerox’s Halim Ammoura, marketing director; Reem Al Bakry, HR director, Khaled Bouantoun, sales manager; and Zamil A. Kasim, senior marketing executive.
