RAKTDA media team win Challenge Tour Pro-Am

Ras Al Khaimah: The Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority Media Team, skippered by England’s Steven Brown, produced a masterful display to seal a comprehensive six-shot victory in this week’s Ras Al Khaimah Golf Challenge Pro-Am.

Marshalled around Al Hamra Golf Club’s course by Brown - who sits eighth in the European Challenge Tour’s Race to Oman rankings - the RAKTDA Media quartet finished 28-under par, six shots clear of nearest challengers AGMC BMW, skippered by runaway Race to Oman leader Tapio Pulkkanen of Finland. With the RAKTDA Media team comprising of Andy Mossack, Colin Baxter and Barry King,

Brown said the victory bodes well as he bids to build on five top-10 finishes in 21 events heading into this weekend’s penultimate round of the Challenge Tour series, held at the same venue from Thursday to Saturday, October 26-28.

“The guys were very steady all the way round - they were a pleasure to play with,” said Brown. “The relaxed atmosphere took all the pressure off and it was really good to get a competitive outing on the Al Hamra course ahead of the tournament; hopefully the Pro-Am experience converts into a winning formula for tournament week,” he added.

With 25 four-person teams contesting the Pro-Am, Haitham Mattar, chief executive officer of RAKTDA, the organiser of this week’s Ras Al Khaimah 2017 Golf Challenge, hailed the warm-up tournament a “magnificent success”.

“The Pro-Am was a great way to start tournament week and a magnificent success all round,” said Mattar. “The attention now rightly moves to the Challenge Tour stars vying for glory in the second annual Ras Al Khaimah Golf Challenge and I’m sure the drama will only intensify as we progress into the final two days over the weekend. We are very excited to see which emerging star shines brightest come the close of play on Saturday afternoon.”

This weekend’s tournament suits families and features a fan village, children’s activities, music, food trucks and a drinks garden open from 4pm until 10pm each day.

UAE residents making the trip can benefit from a special offer stay at the Waldorf Astoria in Ras Al Khaimah, located next to the course.

For more information visit www.europeantour.com/challengetour and for hotel offers and the fan village go to www.rasalkhaimah.ae