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The 50th Bahrain Open held at Awali Golf Club (AGC) last weekend was the final event in the club’s Festival of Golf. Englishman Andrew Marshall, who had a two-round total of six-under-par 134, lifted the trophy for the third year in a row and the fifth time in his career.
Marshall, who started the day five strokes behind local star Daniel Owen, used all of his experience to negotiate the blustery conditions and finish with a two-under-par 68.
Owen, who shot an incredible course record of 61 in his first round, finished in second place on four-under-par after a final round of 75 and a total of 136. The final podium position went to Saleh Ali Musbah, who finished on a two-under-par total of 138.
The other prize winners were Ross Bain (140), Nasser Yacoob Saleh (143), Hamad Mubarak Al Afnan (144), Abdulla Al Hakam (146), Ali Musbah (148) and Hamad Salem (148).
The prize-giving ceremony was attended by Supreme Council for Youth and Sports chairman and Bahrain Olympic Committee president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
The Festival of Golf, held in celebration of AGC’s 75th anniversary, was patronised by Shaikh Nasser who handed out the prizes alongside Bapco chief executive Adel Almoayyed.
Shaikh Nasser also unveiled a commemorative plaque created for the occasion.
Marshall secured four birdies over the last 18 holes but also had a pair of bogeys.
Owen had a more difficult round, carding just one birdie while bogeying four other holes. To add to his troubles, the home-grown talent double bogeyed the par-three eighth.
Marshall’s fifth Open title tied him with Nasser Yacoob for the second-most victories in the AGC tournament. Abdulla Sultan holds the record with six wins. Both the Bahrainis played in this year’s event with Yacoob finishing in fifth place and Sultan seventh.
Also held as part of the 10-day festival were the 25th Bahrain Ladies Open, an invitational Stableford competition, a Captain’s Day, a Mixed Open and a Corporate Pro-Am.
The Bahrain Open started from small beginnings in 1964, and was the first open championship for individual players in the Gulf. The event has continued over the years, with golfers from Bahrain and around the world participating.
More than 100 players took part this year to mark AGC’s milestone.
