Dubai: Lindsay Brown finished perfectly to end her consistent lead in the Emirates Golf Federation's Order of Merit titles in both gross and net divisions.
The Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club, formerly known as the Palm Sports Resort, member saw off a determined challenge from Sana Tufail of Abu Dhabi Golf Club in the season-ending Yas Links Ladies Open to confirm her credentials as the official number one woman golfer in the country.
Playing off an impressive three handicap, Brown shot a gross 36-hole total of 146, beating Tufail by one shot in a close finish at the Yas Links course.
With this victory, her fifth in the nine-event Order of Merit, Brown took her tally to 240 points, a good 13 points ahead of Tufail. Nasha Sarkari of Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club finished a distant third with 179.5 points.
Net division
Brown and Tufail, who between them won eight off the nine events, finished in the same order in the net division, a result which amply shows the Order of Merit, in the end, was reduced to a two-horse race for honours.
Brown collected 161 points, beating Tufail by just 5.5 points. Sandra Grenet, representing the Emirates Golf Federation, settled for third on 103.5 points.
Eida Al Muhairbi, who represented the UAE for the first time in the Arab Golf Championship in Tunisia in October last year, added another feather to her cap, raking in a top-10 finish in both gross and net divisions.
The top 16 gross winners will compete in the Scratch Matchplay Championship to be held in Saadiyat Beach Golf Club on May 20-21.
Ladies Order of Merit (Gross) leaders:
1. Lindsay Brown (AAESGC) 240 points
2. Sana Tufail (ADGC) 227
3. Nasha Sarkari (DCGYC) 179.5
4. Sandra Grenet (EGF) 126.5
5. Jo Schoeman (EGC) 104
6. Kavita Sehmi (EGC) 100.5
7. Serifa D'Souza (DCGYC) 76.5
8. Monina Gudaca (EGF) 56.5
9. Katy Rutherfod (EGC) 46
T-10. Ashley Anderson (ARGC) 41.5
T-10. Eida Al Muhairbi (ADGC) 41.4
Ladies Order of Merit (Net) leaders:
1. Lindsay Brown (AAESGC) 161 points
2. Sana Tufail (ADGC) 155.5
3. Sandra Grenet (EGF) 103.5
4. Monina Gudaca (EGF) 101.5
5. Jo Schoeman (EGC) 95
6. Nasha Sarkari (DCGYC) 94.5
7. Kavita Sehmi (EGC) 90
8. Serifa D'Souza (DCGYC) 81.5
9. Aashaka Desai (DCGYC) 69.5
10. Eida Al Muhairbi (ADGC) 54.
Standings