The Volvo World Golf Challenge, active in more than 37 countries that host qualifying events over a variety of top quality courses, got off to a strong start in Bahrain with a full field of 120 golfers competing at the Royal Golf Club in the first qualifier of the series.
Murtuz Zamanly was the overall winner with a score of 41 points and Ben Elsworth took the runners-up spot with 39. Naeem Khan took third place on countback. Nearest the pin side contests on holes 2 and 16 were won by Nigel Brough and Depriest Daniels, respectively, while a hole-in-one prize of a Volvo V40, sponsored by Kanoo Vehicle Leasing and AXA Insurance, went unclaimed on hole 16.
A prize-giving ceremony was held in the members’ lounge.
There are five more qualifying rounds left of the Bahrain challenge at the club. The eight successful qualifiers from each round will go on to compete in a final round in December and the winners will receive a complimentary invitation to fly off to the five-day World Final.
Results: 1 Murtuz Zamanly (41 points), 2 Ben Elsworth (39), 3 Naeem Khan (37 c/b). Nearest the pins: Depriest Daniels (hole 16), Nigel Brough (hole 2). Qualifiers: Zamanly, Elsworth, Khan, Abdulaziz Ahmed, Phil Dixon, Petter Nyberg, Jason Smith, Yaseen Lefalher.