The RAK TDA UAE World Corporate Golf Challenge Final lived up to its reputation as one of the most competitive golf events of the season on Thursday last when the 20 qualifying pairs took to the fabulous Al Hamra golf course to compete for the ultimate prize – an all-expenses paid trip to the WCGC World Final in Cascais in June.
The Peter Harradine course was in superb condition, and as always one of the country’s most welcoming and friendly golf clubs made the day’s experience an exceptional one for everyone who took part.
Supported for the third year by Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, the UAE Final was played under cloudy skies and with the course playing unusually long, the 20 teams all performed well to record creditable scores, with the pairs of Jeff Glasgow & Mihail Bucataru and Adam Smith & Nathan Fisher taking third and runner-up spots respectively with 60 points in the combined Stableford competition.
On-course prizes were won by Nathan Fisher, Andy Robinson, Arjun Manghnani, Rob Horridge and Doug McLennan, with the Sponsors’ Tournament won, appropriately perhaps, by the team of Michael Harradine and Matt Osborne of Harradine Golf.
The big winners on the day through were Dirk Brewer and Louis de Villiers, whose 63 points sent them to the World Final at Oitavos Dunes Golf Club in Cascais, Portugal from 20th to 24th June. Both played incredibly well and blended well as a team, and both expressed their delight at the prospect of representing the UAE in the World Final against as many as 40 teams from other qualifiers across the globe.
The 2017-18 UAE World Corporate Golf Challenge was supported throughout the season by Palmers, Mediclinic, 800-Battery, Musco, Santa Fe Relocations, and Golf Escapes, to whom tournament promoter OnCourse Golf’s Rod Bogg paid special tribute at the prize-giving dinner, as he did to the host clubs. “The whole season has been incredibly well supported by the sponsors and the clubs, without whom the event would not be possible, and whose support we greatly appreciate.”
Rod went on to say “This season we have enjoyed twice as many competitors in the qualifiers, which makes Dirk’s and Louis’ achievement in reaching the World Final even more creditable. We just hope that everyone who took part across the country enjoyed taking part, and that they will try again when qualifiers begin again in October.”
