England and Wales (North) Region

O’Hanlon of Arabia as he bags Abu Dhabi Crown

19 Nov 19

It was certainly a week to remember for Richard O’Hanlon as he powered to victory in the inaugural PGA North & South Golf Escapes Abu Dhabi Pro-Am over three of the United Arab Emirates finest courses.

Professionals and their teams competed in three rounds of competition at Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Beach and the No1 ranked Emirates Course Yas Links whilst embarking on their Emirates adventure.

Breaking new ground for the regions, the event was established to give PGA Members and their guests the opportunity to play and compete in uncharted territory and to experience five-star hospitality while staying in the luxurious Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Hotel.

In searing ‘winter’ heat teams not only had to battle the courses but the testing conditions of the desert weather with the thermometer touching 40 degrees celsius at certain times during the week.

Keeping his cool, O’Hanlon (above) took command of the event with composed rounds over all three courses, culminating in a two-shot margin of victory over PGA North Order of Merit winner Gareth Davies. Sittingbourne professional Peter Appleyard was a further shot back in third position.

In the team competition it was East Herts Golf Club Assistant Ash Smith and his three amateurs that pipped Gareth Davies’s line-up by virtue of a better final round over the testing Abu Dhabi Golf Course, the venue for the European Tour HSBC Championships in January.

Jonathan Paine, PGA North regional manager, commented: "It is fantastic to be able to bring an event like this to Abu Dhabi from The PGA. It has been a great turnout for year one and we look forward to returning in future years.

"The courses have been fantastic and allow all players the opportunity to play golf when at home we would be sat inside watching the ducks! It again highlights the opportunities available to our Members and I am glad everyone here this week has received the event so well.

"We hope that, with continued growth, the event could well become as successful as our early season trips to Portugal.”