It was an epic 49th Muscat Open hosted by Ras Al Hamra Golf Club. The Muscat Open is the oldest amateur tournament in the Gulf with golfers traveling from around the GCC to compete.
After 36 holes of golf, four players were tied atop the leaderboard. Six-time champion Azaan Al Rumhy, RAHGC Club Champion Navaid Ahmed , National Team Player Badr Al Amri and golf newcomer Ruwan Jayasinghe all teed up under the floodlights on the most difficult par 3 in Oman to determine the champion for 2023.
All four golfers played a sudden death elimination playoff hole. After hitting his tee-shot into the water, Azaan made a fantastic chip in to save par on the first playoff hole. Badr was eliminated on the second playoff hole as he made bogey, while the other three made their par. Badr took home the 4th place prize on the third playoff hole after Ruwan saved par with a long putt, while Azaan’s putt came up short thus eliminating himself , Navaid made his par to advance.
After Ruwan missed his par putt, Navaid tapped in his 4 foot putt to win the 49th Muscat Open.
Altaf Beg edged out Krish Pawani to become the Nett Winner.
Earlier in the week Stine Rees won the Muscat Ladies Open, while Rayaan Ahmed was the Junior Muscat Open Champ.
Ras Al Hamra Golf Club Captain, Simon Walker commented, “Congratulations to all participants and in particular the Muscat Open, Ladies and Junior Champions. It is a great golfing story that Rayaan won the Junior Open and was there for the presentation of the 49th Muscat Open to his dad, Navaid. We could not have had a more exciting finish to what was a fantastic celebration of golf in Oman. We are already planning and looking forward to the 50th Muscat Open which will be held next year.”
Thank you for the support of our generous sponsors PDO, Bank Muscat, OHI, Hydro, CMS, Anantara Hotels and Resorts, Moshin Haider Darwish, Seven Seas Petroleum, Milly’s Golf Society, Al Tasnim and Oman Shapoorji.
