Members of the winning team, Ernie Els, Rachid Aki, Chawki Harb and Matthew Moucharafleh pose for a photograph at the Doha Golf Club yesterday.
Ernie Els won the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters Pro-Am for the second straight year after the South African superstar captained his Gulf Times team to victory yesterday.
Els, a four-time Major winner, led his team featuring amateurs Rachid Aki, Chawki Harb and Matthew Moucharafleh to a medal score of -32 in the traditional curtain-raiser to the long-standing European Tour event, which is celebrating its 20th edition.
China Number One Li Haotong led his Rolex team featuring Marc Valentin, Henning Rudbech and Russel James to second place on -29, while Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen and his De Boer team finished third on -26.
Teams captained by 2016 European Tour Rookie of the Year Wang Jeunghun, two-time Major winner Martin Kaymer and eight-time European Tour winner Thongchai Jaidee finished -24.
The Pro-Am featured 34 pros, each teaming up with three amateurs that included a range of VIPs and celebrities.
Commercial Bank (CBQ), Qatar Golf Association (QGA) and Doha Golf Club (DGC) all fielded several teams, while tournament sponsors and partners also had teams. Stephen Gallacher’s Commercial Bank team included Joseph Abraham, Chief Executive Officer of Commercial Bank, and Gary McGlinchey, General Manager of Doha Golf Club.
Prizes were awarded at a lavish Pro-Am Dinner at the St. Regis Doha.
