Oman Golf: Saudi Arabia emerge overall winners at Arab Golf Championship

Muscat: Outstanding performances by Khalid Attieh and Othman Al Mulla, coupled with pullout of overnight leader Yassine Touhami of Morocco, helped Saudi Arabia emerge the overall champions at the 36th Arab Golf Championship at the Ghala Golf Club on Saturday. Going into the final day’s action, Yassine Touhami had a sure shot at the individual title after having led on all three rounds. But unfortunately Yassine, who was 3-under par 213 after three rounds, had to pull out with an injury, which also affected the Morocco’s position in the team standings. But all credit to Khalid Attieh and Othman Al Mulla who kept their cool to finish one-two, the former carding a fourth-round 69 for a total of 291 taking the top place and the latter totalling six over 294 after a 73 in the final round for the second place. The duo’s performance, coupled with joint sixth place finish of Saud Al Sharif (305), helped the Saudi Arabia to take the overall championship with a total score of 881. Morocco had to settle for second place with 903 while Qatar took the third place with 916 score. Egypt’s Issa Abou El Ela, who carded 75 on final day for a total of 295, took the third place in the individual category. Azzan in eighth Meanwhile, Oman’s top amateur Azzan Al Rumhy finished joint eighth with Morocco’s Mohammed Khallali. Both had indetical scores of 75 in the final and totalled 306 each. The other Omanis in action, Fahad Al Kitani (338), Ahmed Al Balushi (345) and Rashad Al Harthy (356) finished in the 40th, 42nd and 44th places respectively while the Sultanate squad finished in ninth place in the team standings. Dr Mohammed bin Hamad Al Rumhy, the Minister of Oil and Gas, presided over the final day’s proceedings and handed over the medals and trophies in the presence of Sheikh Fahim bun Sultan Al Qasimi, the chairman of the Arab Golf Federation, and Oman Golf Committee chief Mundhir Al Barwani and other officials.