SALEH Al Kaabi from Doha Golf Club was last night crowned champion of the 54th Bahrain Open at Awali Golf Club.
Al Kaabi secured the title with a four-under-par gross total of 136 at the end of 36 holes of play held over two days on Awali’s 6,309-yard sand course.
He overcame tough conditions and carded a one-under 69 in yesterday’s final round. He had earlier registered a gross score of 67 on day one on Friday.
It was enough to earn him his first-ever victory in the prestigious annual competition.
It was a dramatic finish to the competition, as Al Kaabi triumphed by just a single stroke ahead of runner-up Saqer Al Noaimi and joint-overnight leader Nasser Yacoob.
A large crowd gathered around the 18th “green” to watch all three players finish play. They were all in the day’s final group.
Al Noaimi and Yacoob both completed the event with three-under-par totals of 137. Al Noaimi matched Al Kaabi’s final round score of 69, while Yacoob had his own solid outing by finishing with an even-par 70 score.
The newly crowned champion started the day with a bogey but managed to birdie another three holes on the front nine. He had another bogey on hole 12 before closing out play with a birdie on the par-five 18th, ultimately helping him capture the title.
Hamad Mubarak Al Afnan finished in fourth place with a one-over total of 141. He too enjoyed a fine second day of play having carded a 69.
Abdulla Al Hakam and Rory Young were fifth and sixth, respectively, on scores of 143, while Ali Saleh Ali and Matthew Chalmers rounded out the top eight on 144 totals.
Ronan Armstrong was ninth on a gross 145 after he too scored 69 on day two. Dave Park finished 10th overall with a seven-over-par 147.
On the nett scores, Eid Adel Muftah clinched first place after finishing the competition with a nett total of 125.
Al Noaimi came in second place with a nett 133, while Ali Mohammed Al Kowari finished third on a nett 135.
Al Kaabi was ranked fourth (136), Bill Scarth (137) fifth and Yacoob (137) sixth.
Following all of yesterday’s action, the winners were presented their respective prizes in an awarding ceremony held at the club premises.
More than 100 players took part in this year’s open.