Thursday 09 / January / 2025
Japanese golfer Atsushi Kita ended the first day of the Oman Golf Trophy on top of the leaderboard after scoring 45 points at Ghala Golf Club. The first round of the Grand Final saw all 48 players, winners from seven qualifying events, start at the same time.
Kita said, “The conditions here are great for golf. I practised yesterday and today I was focused on shooting straight because of the higher ground on the course. The Oman Golf Trophy brings together players from different backgrounds and our shared enthusiasm for golf makes communication between different cultures possible, and I am sure this will be a positive experience.”
Elsewhere, former Junior Ryder Cup European Captain Gary Stangl from Austria, representing the Murhof Group, won the Nearest The Pin competition on the 5th hole, and Hikaru Yakushiji won the second shot near the pin on the 18th hole.
The Men’s Longest Drive was won by Riyaad Dinath, winner of the qualifying event in South Africa, on the 13th hole. The Ladies Longest Drive was won by Hiroko Ozaki on the 18th hole.
A total of 80 players will take to three of Oman’s most picturesque and challenging golf courses this week. This includes 48 winners from seven qualification events held in Italy, Austria, Germany, India, South Africa, Japan and France which saw a total of 5,500 players take part.
Players have a one day break in play tomorrow where an excursion has been organised to share Omani culture with the visiting players. The tour includes areas of interest such as the city of Muscat, Wadi Shab, Nizwa and Al Hamra, Nakhal and the Diymaniyat Islands.
Play resumes on Wednesday where the finalists will play at La Vie Golf Club and international guests, featuring diplomats, business leaders and media professionals from around the world, test themselves at Al Mouj Golf.
The Oman Golf Trophy is a unique initiative led by the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Culture, Sports & Youth, and the Ministry of Heritage & Tourism, alongside the Oman Golf Association, Strategic Partners for the event. The Grand Final brings together more than 80 players to leverage the unifying power of sport to strengthen ties, build new bonds, facilitate long-term trade and business relations, and demonstrate Oman’s capabilities as a international host venue and destination as part of the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.
The Grand Final is also supported by Silver Partners Experience Oman, ominvest, and the Saud Bahwan Group, Bronze Partners the Kempinski Hotel Muscat, Lovera, and the Oman Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and official supporters the Aster Royal Al Raffah Hospital, Qatar Airways, SeaOman, Tanuf and Visit Oman.
