| DUBAI — Just four months after
world number two Ernie Els eagled the
final hole of the Dubai Desert Classic
to claim victory, yesterday it was 17-year-old
Chris Davies of Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht
Club who pulled off one of the best shots
ever seen on the world-famous 18th hole
of the Majlis Course to win the 2005 Emirates
Summer Open by one stroke.
Tied on 3-over par with defending champion
Butch Kamps (Emirates Golf Club) and
Dino Varkey (DCGYC), with just one hole
to play, Davies belied his tender age
and fired a 4-iron 200 yards to within
two feet of the hole on the long par-5
that has seen the likes of Tiger Woods,
Colin Montgomerie and Ian Woosnam meet
a disastrous end.
With players of the calibre of Kamps
and Varkey almost certain of birdies,
which they duly made, Davies calmly
stroked his eagle putt into the centre
of the cup for a round of level par
72 and a 36-hole aggregate of 145.
Varkey’s excellent final round
of 71 saw him claim the runners-up prize
from Kamps by virtue of a countback
over the second day.
Kamps, who has won this prestigious
title, which is sponsored by Top-Flite
and Hogan, two of the three years since
its inception, took third place with
146. Overnight leader, Charlie Stricklin
(EGC), won fourth place with 149.
Daily Gross prizes were won by David
Wall (EGC – 74) on Day 1 and Kurt
Alexa (EGC – 73) for Day 2 while
Mike Craig (EGC – 70) and Kunwar
Khehar (EGC – 69) were rewarded
for their net scores in each round.
Overall Net winner was Phil D’Abo
of Emirates Golf Club with scores of
77 and 63, just edging Mario Ramones
(UGA) into second with net 141.
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