The Pros take the 2014 Dubai Golf Trophy
The 15th edition of the annual Dubai Golf Trophy was contested this weekend at both the Emirates and Dubai Creek golf clubs.
The Dubai Golf Trophy is one of the most hotly anticipated local golfing events of the season. It is contested over 2 days and it always promises some intense competition as the 16 leading UAE based PGA Professionals go head to head against the leading 16 Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) Amateur golfers in a Ryder Cup style showdown in a bid to be crowned champions. The professionals will be looking to keep their record intact having been victorious for the previous five years.
The players started with the foursomes & Four ball games at Emirates Golf Club on the Saturday. The Amateurs put themselves in a promising position after the morning play and the match was tied at 4-4. In the afternoon the professionals stepped up their game and pulled ahead to leave the standings at 11-5 in their favour ahead of the singles games on Sunday.
With the Professionals taking a 6 point lead into the final round there was a mountain to climb for the Amateurs. Despite the tough challenge the amateurs gave it their all under the guidance of their captain John Fellingham and at one point were up in 4 out of the 7 matches plying at the time. Ricky Dominguez and Matthew Naylor tied their match to earn half a point for their respective sides. Max Burrow produced a fine performance and got the 1st point on the board for the amateurs with a 5&3 victory over Luke Plumb to take the overall match to 11-6. Following suit was Rayhan Thomas who made birdies on 15, 16 and 17 to beat Alistair Brown 1 up and clinch another point for the Amateur team. Paul King also managed a 2&1 victory over Al Ain’s Professional, Fraser McLaughlin to ensure another point for the Amateurs. Despite Amateur victories for Miki Mirza, Bilal Belaid and Eoin Cunniffe, the professionals proved once again to be to strong a match and it was Anthony Buchanan who sank his par putt on the par 4, 15th to seal a 4&3 victory over Hassan Yazdi and get that all important 16th point on the board for the professionals which ensured their victory. The final round scores were close and finished 7 1/2 – 8 1/2 in favour of the Professionals, which meant the overall match finished 19 1/2 – 12 1/2.
After the end of play, Professional Team Captain, Steven Munro commented; “I’d like to thank the professional team for doing such a fantastic job today and to Dubai Golf for hosting a superb event once again this year”.
Amateur team captain John Fellingham commented; “I am so proud of my team, they supported each other and gave it their all as well as playing the game in its intended spirit. As captain I couldn’t of asked of any more from them and I look forward to the Dubai Golf Trophy going on for many years to come”.
After the prize giving, Dubai Golf’s CEO, Chris May commented; “Firstly I would like to say thank you to you all for qualifying and participating this year. It was, as always, another great event this year with some fantastic golf being played. This is a very special and unique event to this part of the world and Dubai Golf is very proud to be part of it and we look forward to its continued success”.
Photo: Chris May (CEO, Dubai Golf), Steven Munro (Professional Team Captain), David Gray, Dong Lee, Luke Plumb, Fraser McLaughlin, Kenny Monaghan, Ryan Smith, Matthew Naylor, Malcolm Young, David Blackadder, Ed Chapman, Anthony Buchanan, Tom Buchanan, Phil Waine, Alistair Brown, Callum Nicoll
