Dungannon’s Kevin Cassidy produced an excellent second-round display to finish solo seventh Robin Rambo Singh won his first G4D Tour title in the Tour’s inaugural net event at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship.
Played in tough conditions, Cassidy’s closing three-over 75 was only bettered by two players (both Singh and runner-up Kevin Delaney shot 74), and the Cookstown native’s seventh place was an excellent return from his maiden sojourn to the Middle East.
South African Singh, playing with a handicap of 10.2, started the second day at Al Hamra Golf Club on five over, one stroke behind overnight leader Angelo Colussi of Italy.
He immediately moved into a share of first with a birdie on the opening hole on the Arabian Gulf, and then claimed the outright lead after another gain on the par five third.
Singh trailed fellow debutant Michelle Lau (handicap 14.7) at the turn after the Englishwoman carded five birdies in a row from the fourth, but she was unable to carry that momentum on to the back nine as she signed for a ten over par total.
Canadian Kevin Delaney (7.2) then moved into a share of the lead after a level par back nine, setting the clubhouse target at eight over. Singh birdied the 16th to reach seven over but dropped a shot on the 17th. He held his nerve on the 18th as he parred for a five, net four, and a one-stroke victory in the Tour’s first net competition.
“It feels great, awesome,” said Singh. “When the first round started, I was playing the front nine terribly and was about to throw the towel in. Scott Bennett (EDGA) said to me “don’t give up”. Seriously, I was really about to give up. He told me to go for it and he knew I could do it. The back nine I played very well and went one over. I was plus five, one behind the leader.
“This morning I started with a birdie, went on, unfortunately I didn’t have a good first nine. The second nine wasn’t bad at all. It was just an awesome day. I’ve got to thank the G4D Tour, DP World Tour, EDGA and Al Hamra Golf Club. The condition was beautiful. It was a good layout, a challenging layout, but all players who played this week must have enjoyed it. We’re looking forward to more of these.”
In 1991, Singh was playing off a handicap of four when a car accident caused damage to both his legs, and he had to have his right leg amputated above the knee the following year.
He fought back with great fortitude and has secured a number of victories in events for golfers with a disability in his native South Africa, staged by the South African Disabled Golf Association.
“I lost a leg, others have lost legs and arms, it’s not the end of the world,” he continued. “I accepted it. I had an accident in 1991 and had the amputation done in 1992, and I never looked back. I accepted it. That’s life. If you’re confident in what you’re doing, nothing is going to stop you. The G4D Tour, EDGA and the DP World Tour are doing a fantastic job and I know they will get a lot more players and tournaments in the years to come.
“I was very blessed and appreciative that the G4D Tour has net tournaments this year, which gives golfers like us with higher handicaps the chance to showcase ourselves on an international platform like this. I know it’s going to go from strength to strength.”
Now in its third full season, the G4D Tour has introduced net tournaments have been introduced to the schedule for the first time in an effort to further opportunities for golfers with a wider spectrum of disabilities.
The next G4D Tour event will be a gross tournament staged ahead of the Magical Kenya Open from February 19-20.
Leave a comment