Armstrong Makes it Back to Back Al Badia Golf Club Championships

Saturday 16th April saw Al Badia Golf Club hold the final round of the 2011 Club Championships

The course was in immaculate condition with the greens reading a lightning fast 11.5 on the stimp metre and the course playing over 7300 yards from the black tees and 6200 yards off the whites for the Ladies
Championship. This made for an exciting final round and another action packed tournament at Al Badia
Golf Club.   
 
Nett Winners:   Championship Winners:
Nett Winner - Kieran O’Connor –154   Club Champion – Brett Armstrong - 160
Nett Runner Up - Mike Groves –155 (CB)  Runner Up – Mark Rix - 162
Nett Third Place - Mike Fitzpatrick – 155   Third Place – Keith Nann - 170    
 
Ladies Champion – Anna Vanson – 193
Ladies Nett Winner – Sharon Moore – 210
 
Brett Armstrong majestically defended his 2010 title and was crowned Al Badia Golf Club Champion
2011 with two solid rounds of 80.  Armstrong got off to a rocky start as he required a provisional ball to
be played from hole 1, this resulted on an opening bogey, after reaching the 4th Tee at +3.  Brett
regrouped with some steady play and a fine birdie 3 on hole 10, this changed the momentum for the
back 9.  Runner-Up, Mark Rix shot a second round 79, which was the lowest round of the Championship.
This gave Armstrong a real challenge for the title over the closing holes as they battled it out over the
final stages, giving the event a Matchplay feel as an electric atmosphere spread through the crowd, as
the spectators gathered around the 18th Green.  Armstrong and Rix exchanged blows as Rix hit a career
shot into the par 3 - 15th hole resulting in a Birdie two, to see a two shot swing and take a one stroke
lead with 3 holes to play, the two shots were given back at the tricky 16th hole as Armstrong retained his
lead.  Brett managed to calmly play the long par 5 - 18th in par which saw him retain his trophy as the
crowd applauded the 2011 Al Badia Golf Club – Club Champion.

Ladies Champion Anna Vanson who shot 90 on the opening day managed to hold on to her considerable
lead for the final round.  Vanson’s score of 193 was 17 shots ahead of her closest rival Sharon Moore.  
The scores for the Ladies Championship reflected the difficulty of playing from the white tees, an extra
800 yards longer than the standard red tees.
Golf Operations Manager Tim Neil congratulated all competitors for playing the Tournament in such
high spirits and camaraderie and looked forward to many such events and welcoming many more Al
Badia Golf Club members into the winner enclosure.  
The Championship presentation was held in the glorious sunshine on Spikes Terrace where the
prestigious trophies were awarded as the celebrations went on into the evening.
 
Picture: Club Champion Brett Armstrong, Ladies Champion Anna Vanson, Mike Groves.