Andy Marshall secured the 53rd Bahrain Open title at Awali Golf Club yesterday with a magnificent six-under par.
Marshall, from England’s Bawburgh Golf Club, was the overnight leader at two under, followed by David Park (-1), Sultan Al Hakam (-1), Hamad Al Aathem (+1), and Daniel Owen (+1).
In warm and humid conditions, play started at 7am with the leading players teeing off at midday. Al Aathem started to drop out of contention during the front nine while Owen and Saleh Al Kaabi posted scores of two-under par.
The leading group of Marshall, Park and Al Hakam also started strongly, matching each other with one-under for the first nine.
As the players turned at the 10th after 27 holes, the Championship was still anyone’s for the taking with Marshall at three-under, Al Hakam and Park two-under, and Owen and Al Kaabi one-under.
However, with three consecutive birdies on the 12th, 13th and 14th holes, Marshall started to increase his lead over his rivals and, with no mishaps on the final holes, finished as Champion followed by Bahrain’s Al Hakam (-2), and Scotland’s Park (-1).
This is the sixth time Marshall has won the Bahrain Open, matching the six Championships won in the past by Nasser Yaqoob and Abdulla Sultan Saleh.
Prizes were presented by CE of Bapco, the platinum sponsors, Dr Pete Bartlett
The tournament director was Kerry Diaper.
Results: Champion - Andy Marshall (6-under); runner-up: Sultan Al Hakam (-2); 3 David Park (-1); 4 Danielle Owen (par); 5 Salah Ali Al Kaabi (par); 6 Nasser Yaqoob (+3); 7 Hamad Al Afnan (+6); 8 Abdulla Al Hakam (+6); 9 Mohammed D. Al Noaimi (+6); 10 Fares Khalifa (+7). Other winners: Best gross day : Hamad Al Aathem (71). Best gross day 2: Rashid Al Qutami (69). Best net day 1: Rashid Bu Harib (67). Best net day 2: Ali Al Kowari (66). Best net overall: Ahmed Mohammed (134).