The veteran pair of New Zealander Julian Bennett and Filipino Jun Bantug were crowned Overall Best Gross and Overall Best Net champions in the 4th Annual Saudi Hollandi Bank Open Golf Tournament recently at Dirab Golf & Country Club.

Bennett was the last one standing among the single-digit handicap players, shooting a 3-over 75 to win by one stroke from Alex Arellano and Dean Lewis who both returned 76s.

But the Filipino Arellano, with a 7 handicap, did not go home empty-handed as his net score of 69 was enough for him to clinch the Men’s First Division (0-9 handicap) title and in the process kept a three-year wining streak going that included one Overall Best Gross title.

Bantug had been challenged for the low net crown by fellow Filipino Ding Manalao who matched his score of 64. Both players carried 26 handicap.

Bantug eventually won on countback with a better backnine score and Manalao had to settle for Third Division (19-28) title.

Another Dirab veteran, Ronny Lidman, won the Second Division (10-18) after compiling a 65 from a gross score of 82 and 17 handicap. Roy Sayler was second on 67 (84-17) and Koren Il Joon Kim third on 68 (86-18).

Graham Gunn was runner-up to Arellano on 71 (78-7) with another Filipino, Resty Sibug, in third place on 73 (78-5).

Two Saudis broke into the win column. Abdulrahman Mohammed Al Othman, who works at NCB Capital, and Abdulrahman Al Othman, who just returned from the United States, took the second and third positions in Third Division on 66 (85-19) and 67 (88-21) respectively.

Bennett went out in 37, holing a birdie on par-4 8 to pull one back after bogeys on the third and fifth holes.

After the turn, Bennett only dropped shots on 15 and 18 in an otherwise solid round.

Starting on No. 15, Bantug overcame a midround collapse that saw him shoot a fat 8 on the par-4 fifth hole for nines of 47-43.

The Ladies Division winners were Mi Ra Jung 71, Susan Tessier 71 and Hyejin Byon 75.

Mark Campbell claimed the men’s longest drive award and Tessier the same award for the ladies. Lidman took the closest to the pin accolade.

In addition to the trophies Bennett and Bantug each took home iPhone 6 smartphones. Dr. Rana Irfan won the grand raffle draw prize of another 1Phone 6 smartphone.

SHB Managing Director Bernd van Linder attended the prize distribution ceremony along with Abunayyan Group Deputy General Manager Fahad Abunayyan and Dirab Golf Committee Chairman Tariq Javed.