Smith & Nash – Ryder Cup Challenge Champions

Bob Nash (13) and Paul Smith (12) scored 48 Stableford points to win the Ryder Cup Betterball of Partners event held Saturday, 2nd October at Arabian Ranches.

The format for the event was Betterball Stableford. Each player used their handicap index as the allowance to be taken at the appropriate stroke index holes. The best net score between the two players was recorded in Stableford points at each hole. A net score of par gives you 2 points, net birdie 3 points, net eagle 4 points and a net bogey gives you 1 point..

The winners’ card consisted of an outward half of 23 points and an inward half of 25. Having started on hole 4 in the shotgun format with 16 teams competing in the Men’s division their front nine holes included 5 net birdies and only 1 bogey on the par 3 second hole. Smith and Nash continued their steady play on the back nine with three further net birdies and 2 net eagles. Both men shared the stage equally with each contributing on nine holes during the round.

The pair used the Betterball format to perfection and scored no worse than a net par on only one occasion. The Champions ran out victors by a clear three points from runners-up Jonathan Rawling and Jack Higgins who posted 45 points. In the Ladies/Mixed Division Adele McKelvey and Rebecca Ward posted 45 points to win by 1 from runners up Mark and Karen Evans.

Arabian Ranches Golf Professional, Colin Cunningham commented at the prize giving, “It’s great to see so many competitors playing and having fun during the Ryder Cup weekend.”