Dubai: Former champions Bayar Khan and Mohammad Khan teamed up to win the 21st edition of the Gulf News Merchant’s Cup golf tournament at the Emirates Golf Club’s Faldo course on Thursday.
Bayar won the popular event in 2014 while Mohammad took home the trophy in 2006.
Together they played some solid golf to record a -12 score. The format was a Pairs Stableford (3/4 Handicap) with the best Stableford score counting on each hole.
Tournament regulars Colin Farmer and Malcolm Gray finished runners-up with a -9 score while Achal Ghai and Naresh Handa were a close third on -8.
The tournament marked the first time that the Golf GameBook was used for scoring. Each GameBook was programmed with the player’s handicap and format of play. Players entered their gross scores and the system calculated the eventual Stableford score.
The 21st edition of the annual Gulf News Merchants Cup Golf Tournament marked it return to the Emirates Golf Club, where it all began.
The Faldo course was formerly named The Wadi course, taken from the Arabic word for valley. It was redesigned in 2005 by golf legend and six-time major winner Nick Faldo.
The course has surpassed all of its expectations and is regarded as one of the finest courses in Dubai.
TEAM PRIZES:
1st Bayar Khan & Mohammed Khan -12
2nd Colin Farmer & Malcolm Gray -9
3rd: Achal Ghai & Naresh Handa -8
4th Team: Matthew Moore & Simon Cooper -6
5th Team: Andrew Robinson & Anil Sobti -5
NEAREST THE PINS:
2nd Hole: Sushant Malik
12th Hole: Mukul Shyam
LONGEST DRIVES:
3rd Hole: Colin Gow
16th Hole: George Robinson
FUN PRIZES:
Birdie (Most Gross Birdies) Ryan Pope (4 birdies)
Married to Golf (Keenest Golfer Ashok Galgotia — Injured
The Bandit Hero (Best Net Score) Simon Cooper
Off The Tee (Straightest Drive — Hole 10) Pankaj Varma
Golf Pro (Best Gross) Ryan Pope (72)
Humorous — Male Golfer Vishal Tikku (went to Montgomerie)
TEAM PRIZES:
1st Bayar Khan & Mohammed Khan -12
2nd Colin Farmer & Malcolm Gray -9
3rd: Achal Ghai & Naresh Handa -8
4th Team: Matthew Moore & Simon Cooper -6
5th Team: Andrew Robinson & Anil Sobti -5
