The home club's Angela Scurr held off a superb display of golf from defending champion Adele McKelevy (Arabian Ranches) to win Al Ghazal Golf Club's 24th Ladies Open Championship sponsored by National Bank of Abu Dhabi over 36 holes.
McKelevy began her second round in fine style, but began to stutter at the seventh and the title came down to a see-saw battle over the last three holes between the final group out of McKelevy, Sandy Meyer (Arabian Ranches) and Scurr.
All three bogeyed the par-three 16th, although Meyer needed the help of a chip-in when a double bogey or worse seemed more likely.
Meyer scored a superb birdie on the par-four final hole to finish on 159, but Scurr's par proved good enough to give her the title by a single shot on a two-round total of 158. McKelevy also parred the last, when a birdie would have sent her into a playoff
In the penultimate group Fiza Errington (UGA, 6hcp), had started her challenge in style, recording a one-under par total of 35 for the front nine.
The more treacherous back nine was not as kind to her, but she still finished with a magnificent best round of the day 77 and also share of second place on 159.
Other Winners:
Gross best: 1st rd: Vicki Rogers (Al Hamra) 85. 2nd rd: Sandra Grenet 83.
Nett: 1 Wilna Foulkes (Abu Dhabi) 145; 2 Teresa Park (Abu Dhabi G and E) 146; 3 Gill Sibson (Al Ghazal) 147. Best: 1st rd: 1 Nasha Sarkari (Dubai Creek) 74. 2nd rd: Eida Al Muhairby (Al Ghazal) 70.
Subsidiary Competition: 1 Vanessa Jackson (Sharjah Wanderers) 68 points (countback); 2 Cheminah McVeigh (Al Ghazal) 68pts; 3 Evelyn Wrigley (Al Ghazal) 64pts. Best 1st rd: Anne Fasfous (Sharjah W) 32pts. Best 2nd rd: Frederique Kubiczek (Al Ghazal) 34pts.
Nearest Pin: Friday: Hole 6, Jenya Scott; Hole 16, Fiza Errington
Saturday: Hole 3, Vanessa Jackson; Hole 11, Adele McKelevy
Longest Drive: Emma Tully.
