Big win for Hunt and Penford in the EGF International Pairs UAE at Jebel Ali Golf Resort
Martin Hunt and Alan Penford claimed an emphatic victory in the Tech Access International Pairs UAE Presented by Cadillac on Thursday 7th March.
Playing at the picturesque Jebel Ali Golf Resort, members of the Emirates Golf Federation Handicap Scheme competed for a coveted place in the 2013 National Final of the region’s largest amateur golf series.
Despite a ‘no-return’ on the 9th hole, Hunt & Penford reached the turn with an impressive 21 stableford points in the better-ball format. An ensuing bogey on the 10th threatened to derail their victory chances but a birdie two on the 11th by Penford put them back on track as they compiled 41 points for the day. The Resort Course is rated as the most difficult in the UAE and the rest of the field showed why and level par was a good score. Two other teams beat par but only by one for 37 points and a countback was required to separate the pairings of Paul Judson & Ronan Considine and Shane O’Neill & John Fahy. Had O’Neill & Fahy managed to build on their outward nine score of 21, they would contended for the top prize but a 2-over par back-9 was never going to be enough and they had to settle for third place as Judson & Considine’s steady card and back-9 of 19 points secured the runners-up spot.
There was a nearest-the-pin prize up for grabs on possible the UAE’s most attractive hole, the 8th and Shane O’Neill took the honours. In the customary ‘lucky draw’ held at the prizegiving, Rob Paige won a night at the Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi and Ronan Considine won a pair of Crocs golf shoes, provided by DG Golf.
Tech Access International Pairs UAE Presented by Cadillac is also sponsored by Rivoli, Mediclinic, Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi and supported by Sun & Sand Sports, Worldwide Golf, Sport 360 and UAE Golf Online. In the June National Final, Martin Hunt & Alan Penford will join representatives from Arabian Ranches Golf Club, Abu Dhabi City Golf Club, Yas Links, Emirates Golf Club, The Address Montgomerie Dubai, Al Hamra Golf Club, Tower Links Golf Club, Al Ghazal Golf Club, Al Badia Golf Club, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Sharjah Wanderers Golf Club and Els Club who have already qualified. Members at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club, Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club and Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club will play their qualifiers in March, April and May respectively.
Mainphoto: Martin Hunt and Alan Penfold of the Emirates Golf Federation Handicap Scheme, pictured with Peter Menelaou, Chief Marketing Officer, Mediclinic.
