International Pairs UAE History made at Al Ghazal Golf Club
It took until the 42nd Tech Access International Pairs UAE Presented by Cadillac event but finally, a pair successfully defended their club title as Rene Valencia and Ramesh Emmanuel edged a close contest at the capital’s oldest club.
A year after claiming their first International Pairs UAE title and a place in the 2012 National Final, Valencia and Emmanuel found form at the right time once again and will represent Al Ghazal Golf Club in the 2013 edition hoping that past experience will pay.
Although Emmanuel weighed in at some crucial stages it was wily veteran, Valencia, who rolled back the years and found a game more similar to the one that took him to a scratch handicap than the one that provides his current handicap. His final score of 1-over par was impressive for its steadiness and when they get to Yas Links in June, this will be critical to their chances of getting to the 2013 World Final. The pair had no fewer than six net birdies on the outward nine and despite a wobble on the tough 14th, came home with a 44 point total.
The contest was not a runaway win as current Club Captain, Rupert Evans teamed up with Morag Pester and came within a single point of the winners. After a blistering start that saw Morag open the day with a net eagle, this dangerous pairing followed up with three birdies in the next four holes but the back-9 proved more difficult and their 43 total was agonizingly short.
Stan Nikau and Ken Ritzal birdied four of their last six holes in a late charge but ultimately paid for a bad run in the middle of the back-9. Dropped shots on 13 and 14 and finishing the day two behind the winners will be a bitter pill to swallow for Nikau and Ritzal. Nikau did receive some consolation in winning the Nearest-the-Pin prize on the tough 16th hole while Martin Sutherland collected the honours on the equally difficult 6th.
There was also consolation for Captain, Rupert Evans, as he won the superb prize of a night at Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi, Official Hotel partner of Tech Access International Pairs UAE Presented by Cadillac. Rene Valencia’s good day continued when he won a pair of Crocs golf shoes by Hank Haney. Chris de Beaufort and Angela Tiamfook also won a pair of the newest shoe to hit the UAE golf scene, thanks to regional distributor, DG Golf.
Tech Access International Pairs UAE Presented by Cadillac is also supported by Rivoli Group, Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi, Mediclinic Middle East, Nike Golf, Crocs Golf, Sport 360, Worldwide Golf and UAE Golf Online. The winners from Al Ghazal Golf Club join the winners at Arabian Ranches Golf Club, Abu Dhabi City Golf Club, Yas Links, Emirates Golf Club ,The Address Montgomerie Dubai, Al Hamra Golf Club and Tower Links Golf Club in the UAE National Final, to be played at Yas Links in June. The next Tech Access International Pairs UAE Presented by Cadillac Qualifier will be played at Al Badia Golf Club on Friday 8th February.
Photo: ‘Al Ghazal Winners’: International Pairs UAE Al Ghazal Golf Club winners Rene Valencia and Ramesh Emmanuel, pictured with Al Ghazal Golf Club Captain, Rupert Evans.
