Saudi Arabian golfer triumphs in 5th Bahrain Amateur Open golf championship

TDT | Manama    

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Saudi Arabia’s Khalid Attieh was yesterday crowned champion of the fifth Bahrain Amateur Open golf championship, and thus earned a qualification card for the first-ever Bahrain Championship on the 2024 DP World Tour, set to take place in February.

Attieh clinched the title after completing a sensational three days of play at the Royal Golf Club with a two-under-par 70 over yesterday’s final 18 holes.

He finished with a 54-hole gross total of 13-under 203, earning him an emphatic win by a seven-stroke margin.

Saleh Al Kaabi of Qatar was the runner-up with a six-underpar 210 total over three days, while Sam Mullane of the UAE took third with a four-under-par gross of 212.

Fahad Abdulla Al Hakam finished as the top-ranked Bahraini and thus also booked a place in next year’s Bahrain Championship, which offers a US$2.5million prize fund.

This year’s Bahrain Amateur Open golf championship saw 85 players from all over the world tee off. Attieh was the leader from the opening day and finished the competition in style.

He carded two birdies yesterday for his 70 score on day three, which added to his tournament-best of 65 on day one and 68 on day two.

Along with his win and his Bahrain Championship qualification, Attieh also earned an invite to compete in this year’s King Hamad Trophy, set to take place 23 to 25 November at the same Colin Montgomerie-designed 18-hole championship course at the Royal Golf Club.

Classified behind the top three were a pair of UAE players. Jay Mullane was fourth with a three-under-par 213 total, while Alistair Hess finished fifth with a one-under 215 score.

Mousa Shana’ah of Jordan ranked sixth with a one-over-par 217 total, followed by Al Hakam, who was tied with Saudi’s Ali Sakha on two-over-par 218 scores.

Meanwhile, Saudi’s Khalid Quinabit won on nett scores with a 12-under 204 nett total. Bahrain’s Abdulla Salahuddin came second on nine-under 207 nett, while Saud Al Gosaibi of Saudi finished third with a seven-under 209 nett.

Following yesterday’s final round, an awards presentation and closing ceremony was held, under the patronage of Bahrain Golf Association (BGA) president Major General Ali bin Saqr Al Nuaimi.

Also present were a number of BGA officials and executives from tournament sponsors. The fifth Bahrain Amateur Open golf championship is a World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) event.

It also acts as a qualifier for the 2023 The first-ever Bahrain Championship on the 2024 DP World Tour, also known as the PGA European Tour, is scheduled to take place 1 to 4 February next year.

The winner of next month’s King Hamad Trophy, as well as the leading Bahraini player, will also tee it up alongside DP World Tour Professionals in the much-anticipated tournament.