UAE golf round-up: Grand return for Clarky Memorial

Joy Chakravarty 12:46 12/02/2014
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  • Play it for Mike: Participants from last year’s inaugural Clarky Memorial which raised more than Dh90,000 for charity

    In loving memory of Mike Clark, the second Clarky Memorial Golf Day will be played at the Fire course of Jumeirah Golf Estates on Thursday.

    Clark, who passed away of cancer at only 30 years of age, was a member of the Leisurecorp team that was instrumental in organizing the first-ever DP World Tour Championship and the Race to Dubai.

    It wasn’t just his ability to work hard, but also the ease with which he made friends and continued to live his life to the fullest until his last day, that left an everlasting impression on all those who came in contact with him.

    For the past two years, the European Tour has included a Mike Clark flag alongside those of the 60 players who qualified for the DP World Tour Championship.

    The inaugural memorial golf day was played last January and close to 100 people took part and raised more than Dh90,000, which was donated to the hospice where Mike spent the last few weeks of his life.

    The 2nd Clarky Memorial GolfDay aims to raise even more money, but this time, for a local UAE based charity called Friends of Cancer Patients.

    The format for Thursday’s event is the Race to Dubai Shamble. Like in a scramble, all members of a team tee off and the best ball of the four tee shots is selected.

    All players play their second shot from the spot of the best ball. From this point, the hole is played out as stroke play, with all members of the team playing their own ball into the hole. The team score is taken from the best two net scores from each hole. Threefourth handicap will be applied.

    For those who are unable to play in the golf day, they are invited to join Clark’s friends at THE DEK on 8 at Media One Hotel from 7pm, where a raffle will be held to win some great prizes, with all money raised going to charity.

    A Just Giving page (https://www. justgiving.com/clarkymemorial) has also been set up to help raise funds for Friends of Cancer Patients, thus giving those who are unable to attend the event, an opportunity to donate.

    If you are interested in taking part in the event, the entry fee is Dh700, payable on arrival at the registration desk, which opens at 11am.

    Please e-mail [email protected] regarding availability.

    Masterful Mruzek wins Mercedes Benz Pro-Am

    PGA of Czech Republic Professional, Filip Mruzek, mastered the Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club course to win the 2014 Mercedes-Benz International Pro-Am with three successive rounds in the 60s.

    As many as 34 teams representing 17 different countries took part in the event, which was supported by Abu Dhabi Sports Council.

    The teams comprised one PGA professional along with three amateur partners.

    The team event was the best two scores to count, while the professional individual event was a strokeplay format. Mruzek shot a final-round four-under par 67, to add to his earlier rounds of 68 and 66 to win by one shot at 12-under par 201.

    His reward was a cheque of €4,000. PGA of Austria’s Georg Schultes (70, 67, 65) was the runner-up at 202. Great Britain’s Darren Bragg (69, 67, 67) was third at 203. 

    The Pro-Am Team Competition was won by Professional Henrik Engdahl (PGA of Sweden) and his team of amateurs Sven Behnsen, Alex van de Craen, and Jannis Kakakis with a total of 271 points.

    Meeran edges out rivals in DDF Juniors Medal

    Fardeen Meeran continued his recent form to win the second event in the 2014 Dubai Duty Free Junior Medal Championship at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club with a superb net effort of 32.

    The nine-hole strokeplay event has been very well received by the junior members since its introduction back in October, and the February event was no exception as it attracted a large field.

    The scoring was very good and the competition was closely contested. Punya Khanna and Vijayesh Haridas finished tied on 33.5, but it was Khanna who was adjudged winner on a countback.

    Khanna’s win also sees him go top of the order of merit, 10 points ahead of last month’s winner, Kabir Nanda.

    Another countback was required to decide the winner in the Best Gross category as Dhruv Nair and Arkesh Bhatia both fired a solid one-over par 36. Bhatia emerged the winner.

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