McCullough and Labonte deny Wivous in Tower Links Golf Club Tech Access International Pairs UAE Qualifier

For the sixth time in thirteen Qualifiers, a scorecard countback was required to separate the top two teams as members at Tower Links Golf Club in Ras al Khaimah took their turn to compete for an invitation to the inaugural Tech Access International Pairs UAE National Final. On this occasion, it was the father-daughter combination of Joe & Zenia Wivou who were left disappointed when their back-9 of 21 points fell one short of the 22 scored by Paul McCullough and Ray Labonte over the same stretch after both pairs compiled totals of 40 points. After a lacklustre front-9, McCullough & Labonte found form when it counted as they fired five net birdies and four net pars on the inward nine to secure a coveted spot in May’s National Final at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club. The relatively short but challenging 17th hole proved to be the difference between the top two pairs as well as the undoing of the Wivous as they could only manage a net bogey between them and lost the countback by that solitary point. They share the dubious honour of being the second father-daughter pairing to finish second this season, following in the footsteps of Gerry & Katy Rutherford who narrowly missed out at Emirates Golf Club in March.

Early starters Rob Kent & Shinjiro Hino collected third place with an excellent score of 38 points although they were left to rue a poor finish, collecting only 4 points on the closing three holes, and feeling that they should have made the countback at worst.  Nearest-the-Pin prizes were collected by Sunimal Fernando and Joe Wivou on holes 4 and 16 respectively.

This was the second and last visit to Ras al Khaimah in the 2010-11Tech Access International Pairs Series, presented by Cadillac and attention now turns to the end of April when members of the Emirates Golf Federation Handicap Scheme will have the opportunity to win invitation to the UAE National Final, closely followed by the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club Qualifier.

This was the thirteenth Qualifying event in the 2010-11 Tech Access International Pairs UAE Presented by Cadillac, which is the only Club Members’ international event in the UAE. Paul McCullough & Ray Lebonte join representatives from Arabian Ranches Golf Club, Abu Dhabi City Golf Club, Abu Dhabi Golf Club, The Montgomerie Dubai, Al Ghazal Golf Club, Jumeirah Golf Estates, The Els Club, Emirates Golf Club, Sharjah Wanderers Golf Club, Yas Links, Al Hamra Golf Club and Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club whose names are already in the National Final draw. International Pairs UAE is sponsored by Tech Access, Cadillac, Diamond Developers, Emirates Healthcare Ltd. and partnered by Park Hyatt Dubai, Delwood, Nike Golf, Sport 360, Worldwide Golf and UAE Golf Online.

Photo: Tower Links Golf Club Winner Paul McCullough, pictured with Club Captain, Dave Clark.