RIYADH: Paul Bateman played solid golf on Saturday to win the Division A (0-16 handicap) title at the Almarai Golf Tournament, the first to be held at Nofa Golf Resort in 2017.
Bateman, with a 14 handicap, shot a net score of 69 in benign conditions, as he outstripped everyone else at the end of the 18-hole individual stroke play event.
Batemen dropped just two shots coming home on 38 for a gross score of 83. He tallied 45 in a rollercoaster front nine that saw him shoot an eagle three on the first hole only to go double-bogey, bogey, double-bogey and bogey over the next four holes. He closed with a pair of bogeys while unable to buy a par until the 13th that followed his second birdie of the day. Bateman only had one bogey, on 16, the rest of the way.
Mattias Ardfelt clinched Division A second place on 73 (82-9) with Russell Hardgrove in third place on 75 (82-7) and Willie Querida in fourth position on 76 (90-14).
Winning the Division B (17-28) crown was Ian McLure in countback over two other players. McLure had a 71, from a gross score of 90 and 19 handicap, the same net score posted by Billy Jordan and Paul Wilks who finished second and third respectively. Jordan had 93 and 22 and Wilks 91-20. Azman Mokhtar took the fourth position on 74 (98-24).
The event attracted 100 participants who all enjoyed a day out on the course with the weather cooperating, becoming pleasant as the round went on.
Malcom Jordan, CEO of IPNC, Almarai, thanked all participants during the prize distribution ceremony. Abdurahman Al Mazyad, event manager, Almarai, received a plaque of appreciation from Nofa Resorts GM Eamonn Hanlon.
The first prizes in both divisions are Ping G drivers, second prizes Puma cart bags, third prizes Taylormade metalwoods and fourth prizes Cleveland putters.
Participants each received a goody bag with a Greg Norman polo shirt and cap, a sleeve of Titleist balls, and hat clip with ball marker.
Nofa Golf Resort Manager Nishad Muhammed Kunju thanked the players and the tournament sponsor Almarai Company for their support to Nofa Golf Resort. Upcoming events are the February Monthly Medal sponsored by ALFALWA on Feb. 25 and the Hyundai Golf Tournament and Castrol Golf Tournament to be scheduled in March and April.
Bateman, Ardfelt rule Almarai Golf Tournament 2017 at Nofa
Bateman, Ardfelt rule Almarai Golf Tournament 2017 at Nofa
Tennis world number ones Sabalenka, Alcaraz begin Australian Open campaigns
- Carlos Alcaraz, who could complete a career Grand Slam if he wins the tournament, faces Adam Walton
- Aryna Sabalenka takes on Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah as she seeks a third title at Melbourne Park
MELBOURNE: The first round of the Australian Open begins in Melbourne on Sunday.
World number one Carlos Alcaraz, who could complete a career Grand Slam if he wins the tournament, faces Adam Walton, while Aryna Sabalenka takes on Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah as she seeks a third title at Melbourne Park.
Top men’s match: Alcaraz v Walton
At 22, Alcaraz could replace Don Budge as the youngest man to achieve the career Grand Slam with victory at the Australian Open. The Spaniard has left no one in any doubt what his main goal is for the 2026 season, saying in November he would rather win a first Melbourne Park crown than retain his French and US Open titles.
His quest to make history will begin with a first-round tie against Australian Walton.
The pair have crossed paths once before, with Alcaraz beating the Australian 6-4 7-6(4) during his title-winning run at the Queen’s Club Championships last year.
Top women’s match: Sabalenka v Rakotomanga Rajaonah
Sabalenka will be bidding to continue her incredible record in hard court Grand Slam tournaments when she begins her campaign against Frenchwoman Rakotomanga Rajaonah.
The Belarusian world number one has reached the final of the last six majors she has played on the surface, winning four of those.
She enters the competition in fine form after retaining her Brisbane International title this month without losing a set, and should have little trouble when she takes on the 118th-ranked Rakotomanga Rajaonah.
Venus Williams is back
Venus Williams, a two-times Australian Open singles finalist, returns to the tournament for the first time since 2021 after receiving a wildcard.
The 45-year-old faces Olga Danilovic in the first round, where she is set to become the oldest woman to feature in the Australian Open main draw by surpassing Japan’s Kimiko Date, who was 44 when she bowed out in the first round in 2015.
Williams has endured a poor start to the season, losing to Magda Linette in the first round in Auckland and to Tatjana Maria in her opening match at the Hobart International.
Despite her defeats, she said she was happy with her level.
“I can’t expect perfection right now, but I know I’m playing good tennis. Winning and losing doesn’t know any age. Once you walk on court, you’re there to compete,” Williams said before her defeat in Hobart.
Australian Open order of play on Sunday
Here is the order of play on the main showcourts on the first day of the Australian Open (prefix number denotes seeding):
Rod Laver Arena
- Day session
Aliaksandra Sasnovich (Belarus) v 7-Jasmine Paolini (Italy)
3-Alexander Zverev (Germany) v Gabriel Diallo (Canada)
- Night session
1-Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) v Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah (France)
1-Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) v Adam Walton (Australia)
Margaret Court Arena
- Day session
Maria Sakkari (Greece) v Leolia Jeanjean (France)
18-Francisco Cerundolo (Argentina) v Zhang Zhizhen (China)
- Night session
10-Alexander Bublik (Kazakhstan) v Jenson Brooksby (US)
Mananchaya Sawangkaew (Thailand) v 28-Emma Raducanu (Britain)
John Cain Arena
- Day session
Arthur Fery (Britain) v 20-Flavio Cobolli (Italy)
- Day session
12-Elina Svitolina (Ukraine) v Cristina Bucsa (Spain)
- Night session
29-Frances Tiafoe (US) v Jason Kubler (Australia)
Olga Danilovic (Serbia) v Venus Williams (US)
