Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia, June 5, 2001 – Nazeer Yakoob from Bahrain and Korean Seo Lim emerged
the national champions in the men and ladies categories respectively in the recently
concluded first Saudi Arabia National Amateur Golf Championship held at the Dirab golf and
recreation center (DG&RC) 18-holes lush green grass course.
Under the supervision of Jim Christie – general manager and PGA Master golf
professional, a full field of 132 players from various nationalities hotly contested this
two days gala, which was declared open by Prince Talal Ibn Abdulaziz Al Saud, the guest of
honor on the first day. He also hosted a luncheon for all the participants and the invited
ambassadors.
 At the end of first round on
Thursday, there was a one-stroke leader. With a 1 over par 73, Sid Taylor, a Dirab member
was in the lead. The Friday round began with four low scores playing in the same group and
from here, it also produced the winner of the event in the end. The leaders were Taylor
(American), Dr. Donald McLean (Canadian), Nazeer Yakoob (Bahrain), Hamad Afnan (Dubai).
The organizers could not have asked for anything better than this, the first tournament
and an international leader board.
All players played well and as Afnam came down the 18th hole, all he had to do was to make
a par on the last hole and then would tie for the championship, resulting in a play off
for the title. The players would have to go for the first tee and play, hole by hole until
there was winner with a winning score on one of the play off holes, called the sudden
death.
 Afnam hit his drive into the trees
and played out towards the greens but found the greenside bunker. He came out a little
short and two putted for a bogie. This gave Nazeer Yakoob, flying in from Bahrain, who had
a relatively short putt for a birdie, two putts for the win. He almost made his putt for a
birdie but settled for a par and thus emerged the first champion of the first Saudi Arabia
National Amateur golf championship amongst the men with a score of 146.
Of the others, Afnam (147) of Dubai was the runner up, Shabs Yakub (135) of Britain the
net champion and the net runner up was Fredrick Westgard with a score of 136.
On the ladies front, Seo Lim of Korea came out top to claim the glittering crystal trophy.
The runner up was another Korean lady, Woo Hee Choi. The net winner was Canadian Ruby
Klawikowski while net runner up prize went to Liz Gardner of Britain.
The awards presentation banquet was held at the Al Khozama hotel in the evening. Besides
the winners and the invited ambassadors, it was also graced by the chief guest, Khaled I.
Abunayyan, co-owner of Ibrahim Abunayyan Sons Company and the Dirab course, Jim Floris
Asingh, president and CEO of Shell Saudi Arabia and its finance director Paul Ratcliffe,
Gilbert Veuthey – Swissair country manager, Salim Khodar – Saudi Technical
Plastic company, Ray Chaplow – Jeraisy Steelcase, Gert Kopera – Al Khozama
hotel, Christie, Tony Thekkiniyath and Bouchaib El Jadiaini, all from Dirab golf. They all
assisted the chief guest in prize distribution to the deserving winners.
The main sponsor of the event was Shell Oil Companies of Saudi Arabia. The secondary
sponsors were Jeraisy Steelcase, Saudi Technical Plastic Company (STEP), Swissair and Al
Khozama hotel. Another thrilling part of the programme was the raffle in which a
round-trip ticket donated by Swissair to any destination to Europe where the airline
flies. This was won Mrs. Lesley Peers. In addition to her jubilant husband, D. Peers
enjoying this moment of joy, she received the ticket amidst loud applause from the
participants as well.
 In series of concluding speeches,
Christie while welcoming all to this first ever great gala said that it is a proud moment
that both the Saudi and Bahraini national teams participated and did a good job of it as
well. He appreciated the great support of the sponsors for making this event successful
and thanked Abunayyan for putting up this golf course and supporting the organization of
this competition, which was welcomed by all. In another breaking news, he declared that
the second annual Saudi Arabia National Golf Championship will be held in April 2002 and
hoped that more Saudis would available to compete by them. The exact date would be
announced later on, Christie concluded.
Ratcliffe of Shell Saudi Arabia, the main sponsor said "we are involved in this game
because there are significant number of Saudi players in the game. Hopefully some day we
will have a Saudi winner". He appreciated the efforts of the Bouchaib, golf course
superintendent for keeping the greens in an excellent condition and Christie for making
this thing to happen. He concluded that Shell would continue to support and develop golf
amongst the Saudis in the Kingdom. |
