RIYADH: Two weeks after successfully hosting the 18th GCC Men’s Championship and 8th GCC Junior Dirab Golf Club & Country Club rounds out a busy March schedule with three big tournaments over the next three weeks.

The Zahid Tractor Open stages its 8th edition on Saturday to be followed by the Pakistan Day tournament on March 22 and the American Express ABGR event March 27-28.

This Dirab triple treat for the city golfers follows the three-day two-in-one GCC competition that ended on March 1 and saw Saudi Arabia achieve its best finish of second place in the history of the men’s championship behind powerhouse and perennial champion Bahrain.

Zahid Tractor & Heavy Machinery Co. Ltd. is one in a line of corporate backers to partner with Dirab in efforts to grow the game of golf in the Kingdom.

The Zahid Tractor Open will have a shotgun start at 7:30 a.m., with competition in three divisions for men and one division for ladies.

As of press time Wednesday 110 players have signed up for the individual stroke play tournament where participants will each receive Cutter & Buck shirt, cap, towel and sleeve of golf balls at the registration booth.

There will be prizes for men’s and ladies longest drive and nearest to the pin in addition to the major prizes and trophies.

20th Dirab Anniversary Ladies Golf Tournament

Meantime, the Dirab Ladies Group organized a two-ball Texas Scramble tournament on Wednesday as part of the 20th anniversary celebrations of Dirab Golf Club.

Wearing commemorative blue shirts to mark the occasion, the players enjoyed themselves out on the course with the pair of Chris Buchner and Young Hee Kim winning the event on net score of 43 from a gross of 61 and team handicap of 18.

Inge Gueltling and Christy Roe took the second position on 44 (62-18) and the tandem of Roberta Hobbs and Marika Kovacikova was third on 47 (63-16).

Hobbs won the straightest drive award and Barbara Dickenson nearest to the pin plum.

The event concluded with awarding ceremony in which Ladies Group captain Denize Holding was presented an appreciation prize for a job well done in leading the group. She has quit the captaincy as she and her husband will relocate to Dhahran due to his job. Also, Sile McIlroy was given a prize for her hole-in-one feat the week before while Gueltling likewise got a prize for completing 20 years with Dirab.