Golf: Nasser, Lynn take top honours at OHI Oman Amateur Open

Sports Monday 30/January/2017 16:38 PM
By: Times News Service
Golf: Nasser, Lynn take top honours at OHI Oman Amateur Open

Muscat: The OHI Oman National Amateur Championships over the weekend saw Nasser Yaqoob reclaim the title he first won in 2015 by two shots from Sultan Al Hakam, with the 2016 Champion claiming the runners-up spot.
Oman’s first major golf championship also staged the Ladies, Juniors and Under-15 Championships over the same weekend with defending champion Lynn Casey, from Almouj Golf gaining the honour of Ladies Champion Golfer of 2017, Ali Salmeen, from Bahrain Golf Club, earning the title of Junior Champion Golfer of 2017 and Matthew O’Donoghue, from Almouj Golf crowned Under-15 Champion Golfer of 2017.
In attendance during the final day of play were the Guest of Honour Dr. Mohammed Al Rumhy, Patron of Golf Oman, and Maqbool Al Saleh, Chairman of OHI, the events main sponsors, who presented trophies to the winners.
With over 150 golfers competing, the standard of golf was of the highest quality in testing conditions. The 8th edition of the OHI Oman Amateur Open was played for the third time at the testing Ghala Golf Club and once again the course proved a fantastic challenge for the golfers.
The OHI Oman Amateur Open has always attracted golfers across the region and this year proved no different with a particularly strong field of golfers coming from Bahrain claiming the first three places. The honour of leading Omani golfer was claimed by Azzan Al Rumhy, who after a strong first round showing slipped back in the field on day two, playing in windy conditions.
Underscoring Golf Oman’s drive to develop the ladies game in the Sultanate it was rewarding to see a strong turnout for the OHI Oman Ladies Open. Lynn Casey who has competed at the highest level of ladies golf showed her class and regained the title. Second and third proved a tighter contest with Rahira Ellison pipping Sanjoli Singh on count back.
Al Kitani third
Bahrain also performed well in the juniors section with Ali Salmeen edging out fellow countryman Eid Adel Meftah. Overnight leader, Fahad Al Kitani slipped into third after a promising day one.
This year saw the first ever OHI Oman Under-15 Open with a field of 25 golfers most of whom were Omanis underlining the first signs of success Golf Oman is seeing with their investment in the Junior programmes. This event proved the most exciting with three golfers all tied after 18 holes and having to replay the 18th in front of a packed club house.
Promising young Omani golfer Osama Al Mahrooqi, the overnight leader, proved why he is a future national team player with a great weekend of golf claimed the third place with Danny Whatmore finishing runner-up. The title was taken by Matthew O’Donoghue who held his nerve to sink a testy putt in front of large crowd.
Results
OHI Oman Amateur Open: 1. Nasser Yaqoob, Bahrain Golf Club 151, 2. Sultan Al Hakam, Bahrain Golf Club 153, 3. Mohammad Diab, Bahrain Golf Club 153. Best Nett: Tenzin Tsarong, Ghala Golf Club 140.
OHI Oman Ladies Open: 1. Lynn Casey, Almouj Golf 152, 2. Rahira Ellison, Almouj Golf 180, 3. Sanjoli Singh, Muscat Hills 180. Best Nett: Jameela Daud, Almouj Golf 153.
OHI Oman Juniors Open: 1. Ali Salmeen, Bahrain Golf Club 173, 2. Eid Adel Meftah, Bahrain Golf Club 180, 3. Fahad Al Kitani, Ghala Golf Club 181. Best Nett: Elliot Battersby, Ras Al Hamra Golf Club 146.
OHI Oman Under-15 Open: 1. Matthew O’Donoghue, Almouj Golf 113, 2. Danny Whatmore, Almouj Golf 113, 3. Osama Al Mahroqi, Ghala Golf Club 113. Best Nett: Osama Al Mahrooqi, Almouj Golf 75.