Omega Dubai Creek Men’s Amateur Open 2021

Despite what has been a turbulent twelve months since last January, Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club was once again delighted to hold the OMEGA Dubai Creek Men’s Amateur Open this weekend. The demand for a slot in this year’s event was exceptionally high, receiving over 160 entries. We had to limit the field to 105 and run a handicap ballot for the reserve list. Our entrants came from all over the world with 11 overseas entrants heralding from nations such as Malaysia, the USA, the UK and Ireland. As such, the caliber of golfer was impressive and 34% of the field played from a handicap lower than scratch with the lowest, Toby Bishop, playing off +4.6!

Players arrived on Friday morning to see the 747’s taking off from DXB Airport into the south east signaling a switch in the wind from its prevailing direction. The rough was juicy, the air cool and the pins lurked on the edge of the greens – even the most experienced Creek regular would struggle with the conditions…

Many faltered, some prevailed.

Winning best net on day one with a score of 71 (E) was Christopher Cornwall and winning best gross was Bradley Mogire with a 72 (+1). At the end of play on day one, the leaderboard was topped with the hugely impressive -4, 67 of Zubair Firdaus.

A closely fought tussle between the top four ensued over the final nine holes. We had a new leader after every hole and Bayhaan Lakdawala set +1 as the target in the clubhouse. All three players in the last group were on the green in two after a variety of drives, but Christopher Rahm’s approach to three feet stood out from the rest. A tap in for birdie for Rahm and a three putt bogey for Miki Mirza gave Rahm a one shot lead heading into the notoriously difficult last hole, framed by the low evening sun. Firdaus and Rahm found the waste on the right with their tee shots but flat lies in the sand posed no trouble to their superior skills. Rahm found the first cut pin-high left, Firdaus found the front portion of the green and Mirza’s ball lay just beside Rahm’s after his shot from the centre of the fairway. Mirza made a five and Firdaus a four, but it would not be enough. With cool confidence, seemingly unperturbed by the occasion, Rahm chipped to three feet once again and delivered his winning putt with ease, securing his title at Champion of the OMEGA Dubai Creek Men’s Amateur Open 2021 after rounds of 70 and 72 for an even par finish. Behind Christopher, the field remained tightly packed with Bayhaan Lakdawala in second (+1), Zubair Firdaus third (+1), Max Burrow fourth (+4) and Miki Mirza fifth (+4). Congratulations to Christopher for a brilliant performance over the two days!

The overall net prize was won by Bilel Belaid (E) followed by Raghav Gulati (+2) and Shezad Lakdawala (+5). The best net score of day two was Anders Khron (+1, 72) and the best gross on day two was Niklas Korjonen (-2, 69).

After the price giving ceremony, in which winners were awarded with OMEGA hospitality tickets to the Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club later this month, Golf Services Executive, Thomas Hall commented, “This event was a delight to run as always and we love to see the golf course in its finest condition holding firm against some great golf. A huge thank you goes to our sponsors OMEGA for their continued generosity and support. Congratulations to all of our winners and we look forward to welcoming you all back next year!”