Netherlands' Pierre Verlaar Jr poses for a photograph with Qatar Open Amateur Golf Championship trophy in the presence of Hassan Al Naimi, (second left) President of Qatar Golf Association (QGA), Fahad Al Naimi, (left) QGA General Secretary, Mohamed Al M
Overnight leader Pierre Verlaar Jr of the Netherlands shot up a third round 70 to win the Qatar Open Amateur Golf Championship while Qatar's Saleh Al Kaabi finished second at the Doha Golf Club yesterday.
Verlaar Jr. finished with a scorecard of 210 while the home crowd favourite Al Kaabi, who fell to the sixth position after a four-over par 75 in the second round from the first round third place, came up an splendid show to take the runners-up spot.
The 21-year-old, Al Kaabi was hoping to become the first Qatari to win the tournament in its 31st edition, but Verlaar Jr made sure that did not happen.
The Dutchman by virtue of yesterday’s win book a place in the upcoming Qatar Masters, an European Tour event which will take place at the same venue at the end of this month.
Al Kaabi, however, also a book place in the Qatar Masters where he will get a chance to test his skills against some of the best pros in the European Tour event.
Organisers of the European Tour event have kept two slots open for two best finishing Qataris from the Qatar Amateur Open and Al Kaabi picked one of them.
Yesterday, Verlaar Jr, who lost to Dubai-based Indian teen Rayhan Thomas in a play-off last year, stood tall among the 126 golfers from 38 countries, who took part in the championship.
Christofer Rahm of Sweden finished third while last year’s winner Thomas came ninth.
Markus Maukner of Austria, who started off day one by taking the lead finished a joint fifth.
The 22-year-old had shot a four-under par 68 to take the lead on day one of the three-day championship took the fifth place along with, Sam Hobday of England.
Thomas Strandemo of USA clinched the fourth spot.
