Dubai Creek Omega Match Play Championships 2011 to 2012 presentation
The presentation for the winners of the Dubai Creek Omega Match Play series took place on Friday 25th May at Dubai Creek Golf Club. The event sponsored by Omega began in October 2011 and once again this year has been a huge success with over 300 hundred players competing over four categories; Men’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Ladies and the Men’s Scratch Match Play Championship.
In the Men’s Singles championship, consistent performances throughout from Mark Irwin and Ashok Kumar saw them go head to head in the final in April 2012. The final was a thrilling battle with both players keeping up the consistency they showed throughout the event. In the end it was Ashok Kumar who managed a 2/1 victory over Mark Irwin to be crowned Men’s Singles Match Play Champion 2012. On winning Kumar commented; “I am so happy that I will finally have my name in the champion’s board in the clubhouse. It is a real honour!”
The Men’s Doubles event as always produced some exciting battles throughout. Jean Hendrickx and Parth Goel along with the family duo of Farad Lakdawala and his son Bayhaan (Men’s Club Champion), showed great teamwork and continuous consistent performances to book their places in the final. It was the newly formed pairing of Hendrickx and Dubai Creek Junior Open champion Goel who came out on top in the final to take the 2012 title.
The Men’s Scratch Match Play Championship was the only one of the events in which automatic entry was not granted. Instead players had to qualify to take part by finishing in the top 8 of the 2012 Club Championship. They would then play in the straight knockout event to decide the club’s top match play performer. Two consistent performers, John Fellingham and Paul King booked their places in the final with comfortable victories in both the quarter-final and semi-final stages. As expected the final was a closely contested affair, but it was last year’s runner-up Paul King who was crowned Men’s Scratch Match Play Champion for the first time, after opening up an early lead which proved too difficult for Fellingham to come back from.
The Ladies division didn’t quite have the size of field that the others had but nevertheless showcased some fantastic matches throughout the series. It was Naema Maya and Vanessa North who found themselves in the final after solid performances from round one. In the end it was Maya who continued her strong run of form to beat the 2010 champion North and win the Ladies Match Play title for an incredible 4th time.
Farida Mahabat, Marketing Executive of Rivoli the Omega distributor in the UAE and Christopher D’Abreo, Rivoli’s Group Manager were on hand to present the winners with their prizes. After the ceremony Mr DÁbreo commented; “Omega and indeed Rivoli are delighted to once again sponsor the Dubai Creek Match Play Championships. It is great to see the events going from strength to strength and very nice to see such a good turnout for the awards ceremony.”
As always Dubai Creek’s Head Professional Stephen Hubner was the event organiser and praised the winners for their achievement and thanked Omega for their involvement; “It really has been a wonderful season with some great battles taking place. Well done to all the winners on their fantastic performances and a huge thank you as always to Omega for their wonderful support. We are already looking forward to next season’s tournaments.”
