Champion Gabriel Canizares with Khaled Abunayyan, Fahad Al Qahtami and Mohammed Juma Buamim

Gabriel Canizares played the second tier Challenge Tour in Europe for 5 five years without success. On the MENA Golf Tour, the 41-year old Spanish pro tasted victory after only six events.

Holding his nerve against a slew of young promising players in the field, Canizares won in a playoff against England’s Craig Hinton to take home the top prize of $9,000 out of the total cash pot of $50,000 in the 3rd American Express Dirab Golf Championship at Dirab Golf & Country Club.

“I am very proud, very happy. I got more luck today and I was very lucky indeed,” Canizares told Arab News moments after his breakthrough triumph on a golf tour he joined only this year.

Canizares, from Malaga, Spain, won on the second extra hole when the 27-year old Hinton from Oxford, England, pitched short from a hardpan and chipped about 15 feet past the cup. Hinton missed his putt leaving Canizares the luxury of a two-putt par for victory.

Canizares and Hinton finished level on 11 after a 70 and 69 on Wednesday for a 54-hole total of 205.

The two players both had a chance for outright victory on 18, but Hinton, who was a group ahead of Canizares, saw his birdie try lip out while the Spaniard grazed the side of the hole also from long distance.

The playoff hole was No. 18 where both players posted pars the first time. On their return to the same hole, the younger and admittedly stronger Hinton blew past Canizares by at least 20 yards off the tee.

But the more experienced Canizares hit his approach smack on the green while Hinton was short.

Canizares got a break when Hinton’s third shot settled well away from the hole.

It was a wire-to-wire win on the Dirab Golf & Country Club course for Canizares who had shared the lead for each of the first two rounds with Hinton and Luke Joy whose game unraveled on the final round Wednesday to be on 7-under 209 after a disappointing 74.

South Africa’s Thriston Arthur Lawrence shot the low round of the day, a 68, and just missed the playoffs on 10-under 206.

MENA Division (amateur) winner Ayoub Lguirati.

Another Spanish pro Carlos Balmaseda was on 5-under 211 after a 71 Wednesday.

The prize presentation ceremony took place after the final round of the 54-hole competition that was the sixth leg on the MENA Golf Tour.

MENA Golf Tour and DGCC Chairmen Mohammed Juma Buamim and Khaled Abunayyan handed out prizes to the winners.

“What a great finish to a great tournament. I hope you all enjoyed your stay in Saudi Arabia and we look forward to seeing you again next year,” said Abunayyan while also thanking the title sponsor American Express and co-sponsors Xerox Saudi Arabia, Marriott Riyadh Hotel, Almarai and Osim.

Amex Saudi Arabia COO Fahad Al Qathami, Xerox Saudi Arabia Deputy GM Ehab Waba, Marriott GM Muin Serhan and Almarai Senior Manager Abdullah Al Otaibi attended the prize distribution ceremony.

Also at the ceremony, Canizares told the audience: “I enjoyed myself too much in saudid Arabia. I hope to come back next year.”

Prizes awarded are as follows:

Amex Top 3 Saudi players – Faisal Al Salhab, Ali Alshaka and Othman Almulla.

Xerox Top 4 amateurs – Ayoub Lguirati (Morocco), James Allan (England), Elliott Oxlade (England), Karim El Hali (Morocco).

MENA Division

Amateurs – Ayoun Lguirati, Karim Ela Hali (Morocco), Faisal Al Salhab (Saudi Arabia).
Professionals – Bouchaib El Jadiani, Moustapha El Mouas, Mehdi Saissi (Morocco).

Championship Division
Amateur – Ayoub Lguirati (Morocco).
Professional – 1. Gabriel Canizares (Spain) $9,000, 2. Craig Hinton (England) $6,000, 3. Thriston Arthur Lawrence (South Africa) $3,000.

Faisal Al Salhab, top Saudi player in the tournament.

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