Capital Debut for Tech Access International Pairs UAE Presented by Cadillac
Tech Access International Pairs UAE made its Abu Dhabi debut on Friday 12th November as the members of Abu Dhabi City Golf Club competed for a coveted berth in the UAE National Final. 58 members put their skills to the test over one of the UAE’s oldest courses, located in the heart of the capital but it would have taken a mammoth effort to compete with the pair who ultimately claimed victory and an invitation to the series ending final, which will be played in May 2011 at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club.
Stuart Blan & Stuart Williams combined superbly as they pieced together two nines of 23 stableford points for a huge 46-point total. Blan and Williams, who might have expected calmer conditions having elected to play in the morning shotgun might have been surprised when unusually high winds made scoring difficult on this tight and notoriously difficult course but they were undeterred as they set a target thay may prove to be the highest winning score of the inaugural International Pairs UAE series.
Blan and Williams’ carefully prepared victory speeches did look as though they might need to be put away for another year though as Nicolas van Blerk and Barber Murray came out in the afternoon and played their way to an excellent score of 44 points. They came up just short however with Blan’s superb birdie on the tough 18th hole proving the difference in the end as he and Williams join Ian Kelly and Denver Farrell of Arabian Ranches Golf Club who, despite finishing second at last month’s Qualifier, have been awarded a spot in the Final because one of the rightful winners is unable to play. Husband & wife pairing, Mark & Megan Hardeman won a back-9 countback to claim a creditable thrid place finish with their score of 42 points, highlighted by Megan’s three net birdies and a net eagle.
Nearest the Pin prizes were collected by Stuart Williams and Ronan Hall on hole 4 and by Nigel Gales and Andrew Campbell on the 7th. Nigel’s shot was truly spectacular and came within a whisker of being an hole-in-one.
The second Qualifying event of the Tech Acces International Pairs UAE series was also honoured to include in the field, two special invitees as Michael Goldstein and Jamie Patton, who make up ‘Pure Golf 2010’, took to the course for their 316th round in 2010. Michael and Jamie hail from New Zealand where they began their quest to play golf every day this year and have so far travelled through Australia, USA, Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, Holland and France. Apart from Abu City Golf Club, Pure Golf 2010’s UAE leg will include rounds at Al Badia Golf Club, Yas Links, Dubai Creek, the Majlis & Faldo Courses at Emirates Golf Club, Arabian Ranches Golf Club, Abu Dhabi Golf Club and a special invitation to play at the Els Club with former Dubai Desert Classic winner, Henrik Stenson. With charitable causes driving the Pure Golf mission, Michael and Jamie are on their way back to New Zealand via Australia and will complete their journey at one of the most famous courses in the world, Cape Kidnappers.
Tech Access International Pairs UAE stays in Abu Dhabi for the third Qualifying event, which will take place at Abu Dhabi Golf Club on Friday 17th December.
Tech Access International Pairs UAE is presented by Cadillac and supported by EHL Management Services, Park Hyatt Dubai, Delwood, Nike Golf, Worldwide Golf Magazine, Sport 360 and UAE Golf Online.
