Abdurahman shines to win 2014 SABB Open Best Gross title

Abdurahman Almansour enjoyed one of his best rounds on a good day for golf at Dirab Golf & Country Club and won the Overall Best Gross title Friday in the 2014 Annual SABB Open Golf Tournament.
The Saudi national team standout started and finished his round with a birdie for a winning score of 1-over 73. As the SABB Best Gross champion Abdurahman was declared club champion of 2014.
"I played well today from tee to green although it was my putting that made the big difference," said Abdurahman, a former junior champion and now a young man who has visibly won his battle with the bulge.
Abdurahman,21, has lost 12 kgs. and his spartan regimen has benefitted his game, let alone the experience he gained in playing the Oman tournament of the MENA Tour and SAIT (Saudi Aramco Invitational Tournament) recently.
Abdurahman highlighted his 36-37 round with three birdies against four bogeys.
His closing birdie on the par-5 No. 1 came when he rolled in a three-footer after a good third shot. On 14, Abdurahman hit driver to the left of the bunker, had a good chip and converted the birdie putt.
He started his round by sinking a 10-footer on the second hole after a 5-iron approach shot from 220 yards.
A chilly weather greeted the golfers but it gave way to glorious sunshine with no wind as the round progressed to the delight of the full field of 124 players.
The day was not without some drama as Abdurahman's older brother, Fahad, shot a hole-in-one, his third career ace and first in a tournament, on the par-3 No. 4.
Fahad hit an 8-iron teeshot 4 yards to the right of the pin and the ball rolled into the cup.
"For a second I couldn't believe the ball disappeared into the cup. It's special because there were witnesses to my hole-in-one feat," said Fahad whose two other aces were scored while he was playing alone in a practice round. For his prize he received a multifunction printer courtesy of Saudi Xerox Agencies Company Managing Director Ehab S. Guindi.
Not only the Almansours were in the limelight as far as the Saudi game is concerned.
For Prince Khalid bin Saud Al Faisal the event felt like a Friday throwback to 2012, as he won the men's First Division (0-9 handicap) title on net score of 69.
With a 5 handicap, Prince Khalid, the 2012 Best Gross champion here, had a par-par finish in his round of 74 and his brilliant par-save on 18 sealed the deal.
Prince Khalid punched out from under the trees on his second shot, chipped to within 15 feet and made the putt, raising both his arms in celebration.
To complete the Saudi picture comebacking Othman Almulla, travelling all the way from Dhahran, clinched third place in First Division on 74 behind runner-up Brian Humphreys who fired 73 from gross score of 79 and handicap of 6.
The other major prize of Overall Best Net went to Irish Bernard Nolan who returned a sparkling 68 from a gross of 18 and handicap of 15.
Winning the Second Division (10-18) via the countback was Indian golfer Moiz Ahmed who tied with Filipino Peddy Lualhati on 68. Kevin T. O'Rourke took the third position on 69.
All three winners in the Third Division (19-28) were decided after the countback was applied to break their ties on 69.Taking first place was John Molony, with Sri Lankans Kapila Nanayakkara and Kishan Rosario in second and third places.
Fiona Eldson won the Ladies Division on 71. Korean Mi Ra Jung took second position on 75 and Australian Liz Kennedy claimed third on 78.
Fiona also won the ladies longest drive award with Kyle Feigum taking the same award for the men's division. The closest to the pin award winner was Richard Salisbury.
SABB Managing Director David Dew attended the prize giving ceremony along with Ibrahim Abunayyan Sons Group Deputy General Manager Fahad Abunayyan and Dirab Golf Committee Tariq Javed.
The club also thanked SABB Manager Marketing Communications and Planning Rola Alaskar for her effort in helping make the event a big success.