First Acuma-sponsored UAE PGA Patrons' Alliance event takes place at Arabian Ranches
August, 2009
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The first event in the newly-launched UAE PGA Patrons’ Alliance was held on 23 July at Arabian Ranches Golf Club. The golf tournament series, which aims to bring together the UAE’s elite amateur and professional golf players in a unique high-level competition, had a extremely strong start with 38 top UAE players battling it out for the honours on the day.
Malcolm Young, golf professional Arabian Ranches Golf Club, triumphed as overall gross winner on his home course with a level par round of 72 in testing conditions. Chris Vallender, UAE National Team Manager and also a PGA Professional, was narrowly pipped into second place with a round of 73. One of the most impressive rounds of the day, however, came from amateur player and UAE National Hassan Al Mosharek who carded a gross round of 78 and with it the lowest net score (net 69).
The amateur contest was very close with Hassan missing out on a count back to the eventual amateur gross winner Shezad Lakdawala and Young Jae Kim who also scored 78. The day’s special prizes were won by Mike Massie and Scott Kerins for nearest the pin on holes 7 and 12 and by Aditya Judge and Shezad Lakdawala for longest drive on holes 5 and 16 respectively.
After the event, winner Malcolm Young said, “ I made a couple of poor mistakes on the front nine holes but knew there were good chances on the back nine and three birdies in the last six holes allowed me to get back to level for the day, which turned out to be good enough. Malcolm also added, “The event was a great success and it’s very positive to see the amateurs joining the professionals in a friendly but yet extremely competitive environment. I’m sure the rest of the series will establish a platform from which to build from and ultimately improve the standard of our top level golf scene here in the U.A.E.”
This inaugural tournament series is sponsored by the UAE PGA’s Patrons, Acuma Wealth Management, Al Naboodah, Auriga and TNT, and with the full support of the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF), the UAE PGA is aiming to provide leading UAE amateurs with a continued “elite level” format of strokeplay competition in the hope that it will inspire golfers across the country to aim higher and achieve more.
The next event will be held on Wednesday 5th August at Abu Dhabi Golf Club starting at 1 p.m.