RIYADH: Americans Michael Stieg and Matthew Pelligrino did pretty well as a team on Friday and was rewarded with their first win together in the 2nd Hyundai-Wallan Golf Tournament 2016 at Nofa Golf Resort on the outskirts of Riyadh.

Stieg and Pelligrino combined for a winning net score of 62 from a gross 71 and team handicap of 9 on a beautiful day for golf that had everyone enjoying a great time out on the course thanks to the excellent arrangements all around.

“Our games really complemented each other and we excelled in the two ball Texas Scramble format competition. This was our first win together,” Pellligrino told Arab News by e-mail of their major victory in the tournament sponsored by Wallan Trading Company.

“We played very solid golf for two golfers with double digit handicaps. We bogeyed the second hole we played (No. 9) and didn’t have another bogey the rest of the round. We felt we could birdie or at least make par on every hole and that is a great feeling,” said Pelligrino.

As it turned out, the champion team had three birdies on Nos. 2, 11 and 13 in their 37-34 round.

Pelligrino praised the tournament that attracted 48 teams and 96 players, saying: “The tournament was very well run and the course was in excellent condition.”

Stieg and Pelligrino each received the top prize of Ping G driver in addition to a trophy.

The next four places after the winning pair were determined on countback with the sides all tied on 64. David McAlpine and Reg Owen, with a 4 handicap, finished runners-up; third place went to Saudi national team duo of Faisal Salhab and Ali Balharith, with a 2 handicap, while in the fourth and fifth positions were the teams of Tom Schneider-Ben Frazier and Pentti Korjonen and Niklas Korjonen.

Rounding out the first six winners were the Filipino pair of Resty Sibug and Luke Lacaden on 65 (73-8).

Salhab won the longest drive award with Qasim Amin and McAlpine claiming the closest to the pin plums on Nos. 4 and 6.

Pyung Oh Kwon took home the top raffle draw prize of Taylormade R1 driver. Kevin Hanlon won Cleveland cart bag, John Dougan Nike cart bag, John Deel pack of 3 Powerbilt wedges, Asim Bukhthiar classic pputter nad Bak Hyun Nam long ball display case.

Wallan Group Vice president Abdulaziz Wallan and GM Bandar Wallan handed over prizes to the winners during the prize distribution ceremony in which they were also given plaque of appreciation by Nofa Resorts GM Eamonn Hanlon. Faisal Ashraf Sami, director Marketing, and Alaa Abou Merhi, GM Marketing, of Hyundai Wallan Trading Company, also attended the ceremony.

Nishad Muhammed Kunju, Nofa Golf Resort manager, thanked all participants and tournament sponsor Hyundai Wallan Group for their continued generous support to Nofa Golf Resort owned by Prince Sultan bin Mohammed Saud Alkabeer.