Salhab Best Gross champion at Chairman’s Cup

Faisal Salhab gave himself a confidence boost ahead of the GCC Golf Tournament when he won the Best Gross title in the Chairman’s Cup 2013 at the Dirab Golf & Country Club on Friday.
One of the most exciting young players to emerge from the Saudi national team in recent years, Salhab fired a solid 72, even par on the flat but challenging 6,905-yard layout, to win by three shots from Korean taekwondo master M. S. Kim, who signed for a 75.
Except for what he called a “stupid” bogey on No. 5 and another dropped shot on nine when he hit out of bounds off the tee Salhab enjoyed a good round on a bit chilly and cloudy day.
Taking advantage of soft conditions, the 16-year old Salhab, a Grade 11 student at the American International School in Riyadh, attacked the pins that left him with putts of tap-in distance including on the second hole where he holed a birdie putt from 1 1/2 feet. He also birdied No. 14 that gave him a 35 in a bogeyless back nine.
“I played decent and I was putting well,” said Salhab who will be part of the team to represent Saudi Arabia in the GCC championship to be held Feb. 23-26 at the Almouj Golf at The Wave in Muscat, Oman.
Steve Hunter, a 12 handicap golfer, was the Best Net winner on 68 in the tournament to coincide with the turnover of the chairmanship of the Dirab Golf Management Committee.
Saudi national players Ali Al Sahli and Abdulrahman Almansour claimed the first two places in the men’s First Division (0-9 handicap) on 70 and 73 respectively with Filipino Ebrahim Zailon at third position on 74.
The Second Division (10-19) title went to Tariq Saeed Khan who carded 69 from a gross 88 and 19 handicap. Another 19 handicap player, Filipino Tony Lizardo, was two shots back in second at 71 with Irshad Akhter third on 72.
Tariq Javed, who was named the new committee chairman to succeed Naseer Uddin Siddiqui during the turnover ceremony, made the day all the more memorable when he won the Third Division (20-28) on countback from David Gerlott after both players tied on 69. Paul Conyers was third on 71.
David Lloyd Bantug, a 12 years old Grade 6 student at Elite International School who will compete in the Philippines this April in the US Kids qualifying and Callaway Junior World qualifying, won the Junior Division on 72 from a gross score of 86 and handicap 14.
The first three Ladies Division winners were Jun He Kim 72, Susan Tessier 77 and Denize Holding 83.
Rob Smith swept the awards for men’s longest drive and nearest to the pin while Sam Jones nabbed the ladies longest drive award.
Winners of the raffle prize draw were: Ed Razon (Mizuno golf bag), Bantug (Auto putting mat), Ajay Makhija and Onofre Zablan (Optari bag), and Patrick Lyons (golf shirt).
Fahd Abunayyan, deputy general manager of Abunayyan Group, awarded the prizes to the winners during the prize distribution ceremony. He also presented Siddiqui a traditional Saudi sword in recognition of his contribution at the helm of the committee. For his part, Javed said it would be a challenge to fill the shoes of Mr. Naseer Siddiqui although it would be an easy transition for him as Dirab was already an outstanding club. He is looking forward to being the bridge tht brings members’ views to management for further enriching their golfing experience in the club, he added.
Radisson Blu Ladies
Monthly Medal
Meantime, the Dirab Ladies Group held its first monthly tournament of 2013 sponsored by Radisson Blu Hotel last week.
The winners are: Best Gross and longest drive Sile McIlroy 89, Best Net and closest to pin Liz Lindeman 66; Alpha Group — Claire Watts 71, Jun Hi Kim 71, Roselyne Delpon De Vaux 75; Beta Group — Barbara Dickinson 76, Monika Schiffer 78, Choi Kim 79; Omega Group — Fauzia Shamim 72, Amina Bouchaib 79, Chris Buchner 93.
The Eclectic winners for 2012 were Claire Watts (Best Gross) and Susan Tessier (Best Net).