Abu Dhabi: Four-time winner and defending champion Angela Scurr will start as one of the favourites on her home course in the 23rd Abu Dhabi Ladies Open Golf Championship, to be held on November 24-25.
Addressing a press conference to announce National Bank of Abu Dhabi's sponsorship for the first event in the UAE Golf Association's Ladies Order of Merit, Al Ghazal Golf Club's Manager Dayle Kelly said around 70 lady golfers will be in the fray.
"The AD Ladies Open is one of the most popular events of the UAE's golfing calendar with participants coming from as far as the UK," Kelly said.
"When many grass courses have sprung up in the region, Al Ghazal which is a sand course can hold its own as a championship course having staged the World Sand Course Championship," he said.
Sami B. Al Ayoubi, NBAD's Manager for Corporate Communications, said his organisation was keen to support sporting events along with their support for community events. "It is our management's decision to be a pioneer in encouraging such events," Al Ayoubi said.
Commenting on Scurr's chances, Kelly said: "Angela has been a leading amateur golfer in the UAE for many years."
Scurr said she was looking forward to the event. "There are about 20 good players on the circuit. K.S. Kim, Adele McElvy, Mitsuko Emerson, Sylvie Boulet-Capron are a few who will add a lot of class to the competition," the defending champion said.
Great hopes
Kelly also pencilled out UAE national lady player Eida Al Muhairby. "Eida will be competing in this year's Open and we have great hopes for her," he said.
The AD Ladies Open is the first of the six events in the Ladies Order of Merit.
"There are a total of 26 individual prizes to be won with the top five to be decided on the gross scores while the remaining on nett scores."
