A matter of merit for UAE golfers

The Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) Order of Merit Match Play Championship which forms part of the 2011 Order of Merit Calendar for men and ladies will be played at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, Abu Dhabi on May 20 and 21.

The format of the annual Scratch Match Play Championship will be a strokeplay event where 16 of the top men and lady amateur golfers from the EGF Order of Merit gross winners are invited to participate for the winning title.

The season-long EGF Order of Merit series featured 12 Mens, nine Ladies and five Junior events and points were awarded to top players on the basis of their performances in each tournament at various golf clubs in the UAE. In order to enter the Order of Merit qualifying rounds, UAE-based amateur golfers must hold a valid EGF Handicap. To qualify for entry, golfers should check with the respective club if there is a handicap ballot for that specific event.

The grand finale will be a Match Play event, with the first round on Friday, May 20 to qualify for the second round that will follow in the afternoon. The semi-finals and finals of the competition will take place on Saturday, May 21 where players will compete for first place winner, second runner-up and third and fourth places.

Lindsay Brown from Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club, won the Emirates Golf Federation's Order of Merit titles in both gross and net divisions. Playing off an inspiring three handicap, Lindsay shot a gross 36-hole total of 146, beating Sana Tufail by one shot in a close finish at the season-ending Yas Links Ladies Open on April 23.

In the men's division, Miki Mirza from Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club who plays off a staggering plus two handicap won the Emirates Golf Federation's Order of Merit title finishing with a gross 36-hole total of 146 in the season-ending Montgomerie Dubai Open to take his count to 225.5 points, beating Michael Harradine to second place by just seven points. Michael fared better than Miki at the Montgomerie Open with a creditable second on a gross 143, but Miki's dazzling victories at Al Ain and Yas Links saw him walking away with the winning title.

The UAE's best

Golf has certainly become a competitive sport for UAE national golfers with Abdullah Al Musharrakh, Khalid Yousuf and lady golfer Eida Al Muhairbi (who represented the UAE for the first time in the Arab Golf Championship in Tunisia last year) all finishing among the Top 10 Golfers and will be competing for the title at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, Abu Dhabi on May 20 and 21.

The Emirates Golf Federation will be making a few changes to the Order of Merit conditions of play for the next season, which hopefully will make it easier for more players to compete. Information will be posted on the EGF website www.ugagolf.com before the start of the next season in September. Readers can also access the results and news of the Order of Merit Scratch Match Play Championship via the EGF website.