Elsdon bags ladies open title

Manama : Fiona Elsdon from Brisbane, Australia (gross 82) was crowned as the 29th Bahrain Ladies Open Golf Championship winner which sadly had to be called off yesterday at Awali Golf Club, as the second day was abandoned due to heavy rains which made the sand course unplayable.

The club celebrating its 80th anniversary had 28 ladies in the fray from both the hosts and Royal Golf Club members but due to the inclement weather, organisers had no alternative to call off the second day.

In second place was Nicola Park (88), with Dena Wales (90) in third, while Ariette Paul, Susan Scott and Lynn St Lawrence (92) were fourth to sixth places
 respectively.

Rounding out the top ten were Kerry Diaper and Tracy Samson (93), Stacey Thomas (94) and the defending champion Sarah Hobday (94).

Nicola Park (70) won the best net trophy and outside the main gross and net prizes, Tracy Samson (net 70) was the best overall. Diane Loney (72) was second and best net on Day One was Yvonne Addison (73).

Event winner Elsdon said, “It was such a disappointment winning under these circumstances. All the girls are great fun and we enjoy each other’s company.

It is a pity the weather ruined things as the second day (yesterday) would have been very interesting.”

Elsdon said she has played on Saudi Arabian grass courses in Riyadh which are very different to Awali but enjoyed the experience on sand.

She also said, “I enjoyed the sand course and you have to play a different game and I played three under my handicap, but wished it would have gone over the two full days for us all but for the weather.”

Event sponsors were Bapco, Banz, Airmech, Al Haddad, Coca Cola and African and Eastern, with a Hole-in-one prize of a Mercedes car on Hole 8.

The 64th Bahrain Open Golf Championship takes place next Friday and Saturday.