RIYADH: Korean diplomat-golfer Dong Soon Kong and Chang Hwi Lee are partners for life and, well, in golf. What a partnership. At least, for a day, as the husband and wife team played near-flawless golf yesterday to win the 2008 Saudi National Day Golf Tournament at Dirab Golf Club.
D. S. Kong, a counselor at the Korean Embassy, and C. H. Lee, with a combined handicap of 19, shot a sparkling net score of 50 to upstage the field in the two-ball better-ball Texas Scramble format competition. "We played very good as a team. Our driving, short game and putting all fell into place," said Kong.
But he was quick to point to his wife as the one who carried the tandem. The winning pair posted a gross score of 69 featuring three birdies in a bogeyless round.
For their feat, the Kongs were awarded with a 32-inch Sony Bravia LCD television set. This is the second time a team involving a husband and wife won the tournament. Last year, Lebanese Talal Sarieddine and Aelis Sarrieddine teamed with Marwan Kusa to win the four-man team three to count competition that began in 2005.
As Texas Scramble events go incredibly low scores are par for the course. In yesterday's event, the format calls for the nine tee shots of each player in play. After a tee shot is selected the players then hit their second shots from the same spot and repeat the routine for the third shot and so on. A team's playing handicap is 50 percent of the total handicap of the two players.
Mark Duda, a single-digit handicap golfer was paired with long-hitting 24-handicapper, Joe Biebendach, and they romped to a 51 for second place. The Saudi Oger duo of Filipino Eric Liquigan, another accomplished single-digit handicap golfer and his boss, Frenchman Jean Bouzane, clinched third place on 52 after countback over Juan Rosado and Bob Mordan, who in turn won over the third team in the three-way tie namely Rob Patridge and Ron Towery.
Saudi national team captain Ali Balhareth specially drove from the Eastern Province for the 18-hole clambake organized by Dirab Golf Club and sponsored by Zahid Tractor as part of the country's National Day celebration. The longest drive awards went to Biedebach in the men's division and Lee in the ladies division, while Alistair McIlroy claimed the nearest to pin award.
Dirab Golf Club Manager Bouchaib El Jadiani and Dirab Golf Committee member Flore Bouzane presented prizes to the winners during the prize distribution ceremony.
Two big events, 2008 Club Championship Match Play and SABB Championship, are set for Oct. 24 and Oct. 31, according to El Jadiani.
