RIYADH: Stuart Halliday and Paul Stanton have not had success with different Texas Scramble partners in the recent past but found one with each other Friday during the 2nd Annual Lufthansa Open Golf Tournament 2015 at Dirab Golf & Country Club on the outskirts of Riyadh.

Halliday and Stanton, with a team handicap of 4, produced the winning net score of 62 and rewarded their partnership with the champion trophy in this two ball Texas Scramble format competition.

Until their victory on a windless sunny day the closest they got to winning was runner-up with Dean Lewis at Emirates NBD Open two weeks ago for Stanton and fourth place for Halliday’s team in the ABGR-AMEX tournament last March.

Halliday and Stanton enjoyed a hot start to birdie three straight holes from No. 2 before another birdie on the par-5 ninth gave the pair a 4-under score at the turn. They had their only bogey on No. 12 but then recovered big time with another three birdies on the trot for a 34 coming home.

One stroke back in runner-up position was the tandem of Steve Thompson and Michael Slater who returned 63 from a gross score of 69 and handicap of 6. The pair carded nines of 34-35 where they mixed four birdies, 13 pars and 1 bogey.

The British father-and-daughter team of Clark Windros and Amy Windros claimed third place on 64 from gross score of 74 and handicap of 10.

Resty Sibug missed regular partner Alex Arellano and paired with Boiet Carigma this time in getting a podium finish for the Filipinos, fourth place, on countback from the team of Roddy Van Rooyen and Chris Fairholm after the sides tied on 65. When the backnine scores were compared to break the tie Sibug and Carigma tallied 35 to the 36 by Rooyen and Fairholm.

The skill prizes for men’s and ladies longest drive went to Gordon Rees and Liz Kennedy respectively and closest to the pin to Steve Taylor.

Harald Hahn, director Saudi Arabia, Bahrain & Yemen at Lufthansa German Airlines, handed over prizes to the winners along with Dirab Golf Committee Chair Tariq Javed. Hahn, who attended the prize distribution ceremony with the Lufthansa Marketing team, promised to continue sponsorship for the coming years. As usual, Marriott Riyadh Hotel through GM Muin Serhan catered breakfast and lunch.

The grand raffle prize of two Economy Premier Class Lufthansa Airlines return ticket to Europe was won by American national Tom Eidson. The other raffle draw winners were Pia Enborge (Ping putter), Jack Molony (Ping duffel bag) and David McGlashan (golf travel cover).