Yas Links Abu Dhabi proudly hosted its second annual Members Club Championship over the weekend of the 2nd and 3rd of December. A large field comprising of male, ladies and junior members battled it out over two days and 36 holes to determine the Champion golfer for both the Men’s and Ladies Club Championship Trophies.
The Championship layout at Yas Links provided a stearn test of skill for all with windy conditions and fast greens really challenging all competitors under the pressure of the biggest member’s competition in the club calendar.
Men’s Club Captain Dan Weisser set the day one with a gross 75 followed by defending Champion Joe Howell with a gross 78. James Cook and Ryan Hunter both carded 79’s respectively with +2 handicapper Robert Alter carding an 80 for an uncharacteristic start. In the Ladies division teenage star Sana Tufail carded a solid round of 75 for a 6 shot lead on Ladies Captain, Sharon Hall.
With the re-draw complete and the tees moved further back day two started with the highest gross scores out first and the leaders off of the first tee just after 10am. A tight battle in the Men’s division unfolded throughout the morning with Robert Alter, James Cook and Joe Howell all starting well, but it was Alter’s class that shone through under the pressure of the final round carding a level par 72, in doing so setting the Amateur Course Record for Yas Links off of the Championship tees. His 36 hole total of 152 was enough to hold off the trio of Cook, Howell and Weisser who all recorded a total of 155 crowning Alter the Champion for 2011/2012.
Tufail continued her dominance over day two in the Ladies tournament with a second round 76 to record a total of 151 and win the Championship by an impressive 15 strokes from Sharon Hall. Sana’s incredible rise into the golfing world has seen her be awarded with a place in the upcoming Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, she is certainly a name to watch out for in the future.
Special mentions but be reserved for some magnificent net scoring with Stephen Gibson totaling a 36 hole total of net 134 to take the men’s prize and Leslie Lloyd a level par 144 handing her the prize.
Robert Alter, Men’s Club Champion, during his acceptance speech spoke of the “genuine privilege of being a Member at Yas Links” and “how the course is likely to become world famous in the upcoming years.” He also commented on “how professionally the event was run, giving a great opportunity for members to compete in the purest form of golf on a traditional links golf course.”
Tom Rourke, Director of Golf at Yas Links, spoke of “how pleased he was with how the weekend unfolded. The Operations team as Yas worked incredibly hard to run the event and it really did have the feel of a tour event with first tee announcements, live scoring on the course alongside fantastic sponsorship and prizes from Ecco who we owe a big thank you.” He also congratulated Robert and Sana for their fantastic wins over a tough test of golf and hopes events such as these will encourage current and new members to participate in all Club competitions.
