Rival captains ooze confidence ahead of Dubai Golf Trophy
With thanks to The National, story by Euan Megson
The battle-lines for the annual Dubai Golf Trophy were drawn up yesterday, with both captains predicting the fight for domestic supremacy is too close to call.
In 10 previous stagings of the competition, a two-day Ryder Cup format contest that pits the Emirate’s leading amateurs and professionals against each other in team and singles matchplay, the professionals have dominated, winning eight times.
But in recent years, the amateurs – who generally play more competitive golf than the tuition-focused professionals – have closed the gap. And while the amateurs are some way from levelling the score, John Mills, the underdogs’ captain, insisted his team was ready to pounce.
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News > Tournament
Hubner nabs the Shield while Payne holds aloft the Patrons' Cup
3rd Mar 10 at 10:07pm
The 4th and final tournament in the 2009/2010 UAE PGA Patrons' Cup series, the Acuma Shield, held at The Address Montgomerie Dubai on Wednesday March 3rd, provided a dramatic conclusion to this highly successful series in the group's Tournament Calendar.
Scores were tight in both the Professional and Amateur categories with count-backs necessary to separate the victorious from the runners-up. Fast becoming a regular on the leader board, Callum Nicol of The Els Club shot a confident 1-under par 71 but lost out after a count-back to Dubai Creek's Stephen Hubner, also finishing with 71, and who claimed the Acuma Shield title. Jumeirah Golf Estates' Steven Munro carded an even-par 72 to settle for third.
In the Amateur's division, Alex Charwani and Khaled Yousuf shared a score of 4-over par 76 with Charwani being awarded third place after the first of 2 count-backs in this division. Pontus Fredriksson and Abdullah Al Musharrekh both shot a 2-over par 74 with Fredriksson claiming the Amateurs' title over Al Musharrekh, who walked away in second place.
"Acuma Wealth Management is very pleased to be associated with the UAE PGA and be a part of this season's Patrons' Cup series" said Con Lillis, Acuma Wealth Management Chief Executive. "We would especially like to thank Julian Danby, Chief Executive of the UAE PGA for presenting this opportunity to us, and we look forward to continuing our involvement with the PGA well into the future."
"Alongside our valued Patrons, such tournaments need the support and commitment from various parties" said Stephen Hubner UAE PGA Tournament Director, "so our thanks is given to The Address Montgomerie Dubai team for presenting a challenging course today, to David Stevenson and the ProSports team for providing the well-received prizes, and to all the Amateurs and Professionals for supporting the series and playing in each event."
With the first swing of this season's Patrons' Cup series taken in October of 2009, each participating Professional and Amateur has been strategising and vying for overall glory and the honour of being presented with the 2009/2010 Patrons' Cup.
Current leader of the UAE PGA's Order Of Merit, Tower Links Golf Club's Simon Payne finished the Acuma Shield in 5th place, carding a 2-over par 74 which was solid enough to hold off fellow Professionals Steven Munro, 72, and Malcolm Young, 80, and Amateur Miki Mirza, 81, to claim overall victory in the 2009/2010 Patron's Cup series.
The Patrons' Cup is a 4-part series encouraging Amateur and Professional golfers to participate in a competitive strokeplay format under the PGA tournament team's watchful eyes. "We are very proud that the series has been so passionately supported by our Patrons, Acuma Wealth Management, Al Naboodah, Auriga and TNT" said Hubner, "and we are looking forward to bringing the series to all Amateurs and Professionals again through our 2010/2011 calendar" he concluded.
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