UAE golf round-up: Harradine finally wins EGC Open

Joy Chakravarty 11:47 26/02/2014
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  • Prized possession: Christopher D’Abreo of Rivoli Group (l), Michael Harradine (c) and Club Captain Dick Purchase

    Emirates Golf Club member Michael Harradine got over his heartbreak of finishing second in 2012 when he became the champion in the 25th anniversary of the Omega Emirates Amateur Open.

    The 30-year-old started the second and final round of the two-day championship two shots adrift of the overnight leader, Peter Dedek, following an opening 72 at the Faldo course.

    Playing with Dedek and Ashley Rees in the leading group over his home course, the Majlis, Harradine made some brilliant up-and-downs to cruise ahead and take a four-shot lead at the turn. And as his challengers slipped back, he rolled in a par putt on the final green for a massive seven-stroke victory.

    Harradine shot a one-over par 73 at Majlis for a tournament total of one-over par 145.

    Harradine said: “I am really happy to win this one, as this is my home tournament. I came close a couple of years ago but I lost on the second hole of a playoff, so this is special. I really wanted to win this one.

    “Even though I won by seven shots, I was struggling on both days.I hit just six greens on the first day and found just four fairways during the second round.

    “I was scrambling all day and hit a lot of bunker shots, but thankfully, the short game was in good shape.

    “The golf course was in great shape, though not as demanding as it was during the Desert Classic. It still had quite thick rough, and the greens were of good pace. But I was very impressed with the condition of the Faldo course. The greens were the best I have ever played on that course.”

    Ken Kellaney (Orange Tree GC, USA) and Bayhaan Lakdawala (Dubai Creek) both finished on 8-over par, but Kellaney’s 73 in the final round won him runners-up place.

    Five players ended up on nineover par, and it was Paul King who went home with fourth place following a closing 75.

    Colin Fraser from Peebles Golf Club, Scotland, who has attended this prestigious championship for the past nine years, was fifth with rounds of 76 and 77.

    The top five prize winners were all rewarded with Omega hospitality at the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters at the end of the year and Harradine also secured a place in the Pro-Am.

    All prize winners received a framed print of the Dubai Desert Classic Champions from the celebrations at the beginning of the month.

    The net competition was also keenly contested with Gavin Greer (EGF) clinching top prize with rounds of 71 and 77 for a four-over par 148 tally. He won by two shots over Bilal Belaid (Dubai Creek) with Maurice Murphy third on a 155.

    Dedek was disappointed with his final round but won the prize of best gross on day one with a two-under par 70 over the Faldo course, which was a fabulous effort form the championship tees.

    Jason Neese (Al Ain) carded a 75 in the final round to pick up best gross of day 2. Also in the prizes were Nikhil Damani (EGC) and Vaughn Reed (EGC) for best net day 1 and day 2 respectively.

    As always the Emirates Amateur Open attracted competitors from all over the globe, who made up the 116-men field.

    Defending champs Dubai Exputts crash out

    After every possible way to break the deadlock between defending champions Dubai Exputts and Woestyn Boere Hackers failed, a playoff was the last resort and Exputts made an exit for the first time in the history of the Conares Golf Society League.

    Gulf Rock beat Lloyds Register to top the SNTTA table with an impressive 24 points, and it was left to Exputts and Hackers to find the second qualifier after two teams had finished tied at 18 points.

    In the case of a tie, the society with the most points on the final fixture progresses to the final round, but both teams recorded one win and one loss, therefore it went to their head-to-head match earlier in the campaign. Again, they both won three points each.

    To decide a qualifier, the countback then went to every single round played in reverse order, and still, amazingly, both societies had matched each other’s scores at every fixture.

    The decision was taken to play a one-hole sudden death playoff over the 18th, with both societies fielding one team each. It was in the playoff that Exputts lost.

    In the Worldwide Golf league, Dubai Irish Golf Society (DIGS) are on the top by a clear six points. The other slot in the quarter final was taken by Sport 2 Business.

    Sensational Sana breaks course record in big win

    It was yet another title for the phenomenal Sana Tufail as she comprehensively won the Dubai Creek Ladies Open, sponsored by PING, with a new ladies course record of gross 68.

    The tournament attracted entries from England, Kuwait and former NCAA Division 1 College golfers from America as well as the GCC countries, but none came close to Sana, who prevailed by eight shots.

    Sana started with a bang, making three birdies in the first five holes. Another birdie on the par-5 13th put her at 4-under, which was followed by two birdies and two bogies.

    This is the third time Sana has won the coveted Dubai Creek Ladies Open consolidating her position as perhaps the best lady player in the region.

    Chitnis, Singhal win Dulsco title

    Aniket Chitnis and Mahabir Singhal won their respective handicap categories as the 11th edition of Dulsco Classic, one of the oldest and most anticipated corporate golf tournaments in the region, was recently played at Al Badia Golf Club.

    Chitnis edged Lawrence Harradine and Damian Milton second and third place in Division A (Handicap 0-15), while Mahabir Singhal was supreme in Division B (Handicap 16 onwards). Lawrie Pattison and Manraj Bindra were runner-up and third behind Singhal.

    The team prize was won by the foursome of Keith Tose, Louis DeVilliers, Nick Hall and Damian Milton, who tallied 82 points to beat the challenge of the team comprising James McGowan, Justin Roberts and Rob Charles.

    The highlight of the day was definitely the longest drive by Mariaan Koenig, which somehow travelled a whopping 374 yards. Abdel Kader Tazerout won the Nearest to the Pin contest on Al Badia’s testing little 11th hole. 

    Over 75 invited guests of Dulscotook part in the tournament.

    There was a golf clinic arranged for the non-golfers and beginners, and a large number turned up for the session. Al Badia Golf Club pros Ed Chapman and Thomas Rhee conducted the clinic.

    S Balakumar, Managing Director, Dulsco, said: “Dulsco Classic has become a major event in UAE’s corporate calendar. From the very beginning, the event has witnessed wonderful response. Next year, we are looking forward to make this tournament even bigger.”

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