Hamood Al Harthy completes Oman Team competing in National Bank of Oman Golf Classic
THE three-man Oman National Golf Team have each accepted individual sponsor’s invitations from the National Bank of Oman to play in the National Bank of Oman Golf Classic at Almouj Golf, The Wave, Muscat, on Thursday, October 30-Sunday, November 2. Last year, Team Members Azaan Al Rumhy and Ali Hameed Al Saleh played in the inaugural event and this time they will be joined by 16 year old Hamood Salim Abdullah Al Harthy, one of the rising young stars in Omani Golf. Hamood joined his two Oman National Team-mates and Ahmed Abdullah Mohamed Bulushi, in competing in last month’s Asian Games in Incheon, Korea, and put in a highly creditable performance.
Next week Azaan, Captain of the Oman National Team, and Hamood, will represent Oman in the Asia Pacific Golf Championship in Melbourne, Australia. Azaan commented: “It was hard going against some very good players from the Far East but it was invaluable experience for all four of us. Hamood showed a lot of maturity for a 16 year old. He certainly wasn’t overawed by the strength of the opposition. It’s good that we will be accompanied in Australia by Mundhir Al Barwani, Chairman of the Oman Golf Committee.”
Hamood commented: “It was a wonderful experience to play in the Asian Games in Korea. I enjoy the pressure of playing in such a competitive situation. It’s a great help for me to be playing with Azaan and Ali Hameed. They have a lot of experience of playing at a high level and they have given me a lot of support and tips, which is helping me to steadily improve my game.
“I can’t thank them enough and I can’t wait to play in the second running of the National Bank of Oman Golf Classic on October 30-November 2. It was a great honour for me to be invited by the Bank to play in the European Challenge Tour event. I’m sure it will be another great experience. I’ve played Almouj a number of times but I’ll have chance to play the course again this week with Azaan before we head off to Australia on Sunday.”
Hamood, who is a 4-handicapper, recently returned to Oman with his 14 year old brother Rashad, who has a handicap of 8, and four other Members of the Oman Junior National Squad, from a three-week extensive golf summer camp at Volkswagen Golfarena in Hamstad, Sweden, organised by the Oman Golf Committee with the support of Volkswagen Oman.
Azaan Al Rumhy added: “Hamood is a committed golfer who is determined to succeed in the game. It was great news when he received a sponsor’s invitation from the National Bank of Oman to play with Ali Hameed and me in the Classic. It’s a great boost for the youngsters in general in Oman to see that Hamood has become such a good player in such a short time and achieved his place in the Team. It’s a big incentive for up and coming young Omanis to follow in Hamood’s footsteps.”
Caption: Hamood Al Harthy in action.
