Oman golfers disappoint at GCC chionships in Doha

2016-03-09 12:35:32

(MENAFN- Muscat Daily)

The gulf between the standards of the national men's team and the four other participating nations was quite stark as Oman finished at the bottom in the recently- concluded 20th GCC Golf Championships in Doha Qatar.

The junior team players were a shade better than their seniors as they finished fourth among the six teams at the ninth GCC Junior Championship.

The men's quartet comprising the Rumhy brothers Azaan and Hamed along with the Balushi siblings Yousuf and Ahmed came up with a total score of 1016 over four days (255 253 251 257) to end way below the other four teams.

Hosts Qatar claimed the title with a total of 889 (224 228 217 220) while Bahrain with a score of 910 (230 226 225 229) finished runner-up.

UAE managed to edge Saudi Arabia for a podium place with a two-shot lead as it ended on 917 (236 224 228 229).

The Saudis carded 234 234 229 and 222 for 919. Oman's cause was not helped by Hamed's disqualification on the final day after officials charged him for a technical mistake.

With only three players' scores to be calculated in the final round Oman's campaign ended in a whimper. At the last edition in Kuwait the men's team had finished fourth while the junior squad had fetched a bronze.

However the junior trio featuring the Harthy duo of Rashad and Hamood and Fahad al Kitani failed to repeat a podium finish as they came fourth in a six-team field. Oman scored 496 (171 161 164) in three rounds.

Hamood al Harthy in action during the event