Jasim Al Gatam emerged as the winner of the BA (BOAC) Challenge with 40 points.
A field of 85 golfers turned out at Awali Golf Club for the BA (BOAC) Challenge, sponsored by British Airways.
Competition was fierce with only two points separating the prizewinners. Three people on 39 points vied for second place with Yong Back Kim winning on countback from Kwang Bok Kim (third) and Ariette Paul (fourth). There were eight people on 38 points, however Andrzej Jopek claimed fifth place winning on countback from Anuraj Bajaj (sixth). Al Gatam and Paul both received handicap cuts for their performance.
The other six people with 38 points, who were outside the main prizes, were Essa Al Quatami, Mubarak S Sultan, Jasper Meinema, Nasser Al Kaabi, Nevil Malao and Mario Carangan Jr.
Conditions were challenging with competitors having to battle strong winds and rising sands throughout but despite this were able to return some commendable scores.
The main prizes were distributed by British Airways Accounts Manager Ajit Lobo while club captain Bill Scarth presented the side prizes. Longest putt on Hole 18 was won by Reynaldo Alejandro while Nearest the Pin on Hole 4 was Hussain Salem and Hole 12 was Petri Kettunen.
This popular competition started life as the BOAC Cup and is currently the longest, continuously running, externally sponsored Competition at AGC. It was first played in 1944, and is believed to be the longest running sponsored Competition in the Gulf Region of any sport.
British Overseas Airways Corporation, BOAC, was rebranded in 1974 to British Airways and BA continue to sponsor the Competition today. In previous years, it has been played as a Medal competition but it was decided to change it this year to a Stableford format.