Purves and Glasgow dominate International Pairs UAE National Final at Yas Links
They travelled the furthest and they left with the spoils. Alistair Purves and Jeff Glasgow, representing Tower Links Golf Club in Ras al Khaimah, have secured victory in the 2013 TechAccess International Pairs UAE Presented by Cadillac.
The team from the UAE’s most northerly club dominated a talented field in the National Final, played at Yas Links in Abu Dhabi. The culmination of a long qualifying series, which saw 16 clubs from around the UAE participate in events played exclusively for their respective members was played out on one of the finest courses in the region on Friday 7th June. A place in the International Pairs World Final was at stake and all players were anxious to find their best form.
Testing conditions, provided by the fierce heat and the renowned Kyle Phillips layout saw several of the pairs fall quickly by the wayside and the third edition of the only series of its type in the region was contested in the early stages by the teams representing The Montgomerie Dubai, Emirates Golf Club and Els Club. Michael Thompson and Charlie Simpson, the lowest handicapper in the field at +1, were representing The Montgomerie Dubai and, playing in the first group, set the early pace with 5 birdies in the first 7 holes. Thanks to the information provided by ‘VPAR’ live scoring and available to all players as well as online, nerves were tested as the main challengers emerges. The pairs from Els Club, represented by Manish Joshi & Satyamurthy Srinivasan and Emirates Golf Club (Alan & Soumaya Salem) utilised their stroke holes and when these two teams reached the turn 4 and 3 under respectively they looked favourites going into the difficult back-9 with a few strokes up their sleeves.
After a steady start, pre-event favourites, Zi Hao Su and Zhendong Tan from Al Badia Golf Club made a strong move up the leaderboard with birdies at 10 and 12 before a stunning net eagle on the 16th put them in pole position. But while all eyes were on the teams at the top of the pile, Purves & Glasgow, who had started their day with back-to-back eagles on the 2nd and 3rd holes before a long string of pars re-ignited their round on the inward nine and birdies on the 10th, 12th, 15th and 16th thrust the outcome into their hands. Despite a bogey on the difficult 17th, a memorable up and down for par, net birdie, from Purves on the long 18th saw them to 45 stableford points which, in the end, gave them a comfortable three point victory and a place in the 2013 International Pairs World Final in Scotland, where they will represent the UAE against another 30 countries.
A countback was required to determine second place and the talented Chinese duo from Al Badia took the honours thanks to their impressive back-9. Simpson and Thompson of The Montgomerie Dubai were unlucky to lose the countback as they were left to rue a sloppy bogey on the final hole.
Speaking immediately after their round, Glasgow and Purves, who are both Scottish, spoke of their delight at winning the all-expenses trip to their homeland to compete on a world stage; “it’s fantastic for us to be ‘going home’ to play in the World Final”, said Glasgow. Purves was keen to acknowledge Glasgow’s contribution to their team score but a scorecard that saw him close out the win with 7 points in the last three holes, as well as the two early eagles exposed his modesty. All in all, it was a superb team effort from the two close friends who drew enthusiastic praise from their regular playing partner and mentor, Simon Payne, General Manager at their home club; “I’m absolutely stoked for Jeff & Alistair” said Payne, himself a renowned player on the UAE professional circuit, “ they are both great guys and International Pairs UAE couldn’t ask for two finer gentlemen to represent the UAE at the World Final. On behalf of everyone at Tower Links, I would like to congratulate them and wish them the best of luck in Scotland”.
Photo:
TechAccess International Pairs UAE Presented by Cadillac 2013 Champions, Alistair Purves and Jeff Glasgow, pictured with Chris Cornelius, Senior Vice President, Sales at TechAccess.
