In the pink in Dubai

by Dermot Davitt |

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The annual Premier Portfolio Pinkie Pairs golf tournament – a key prelude to the Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup – was dramatically won yesterday by Aer Rianta International-Middle East Managing Director John Sutcliffe and Paton’s Chief Operating Officer James Kfouri (above).

Their victory only came after a titanic battle down the stretch with Alan Edwards and Roger Craig – both pairs scored 46 points – and after the club pro at host venue The Montgomerie had added a crucial two stableford points to the eventual winners by virtue of their outlandish headgear, a key component of Pinkie Pairs play.

The event was brilliantly organised by the Premier Portfolio team of Kevin Walsh, Andrew Webster and Garry Maxwell (below), and came just a day before the Dubai Duty Free event, which has attracted a host of industry talent from around the world to Dubai.

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Andrew Webster won the honorary Pinkie jacket for the number of ‘Pinkie’ points he accrued for defaults during his round – points awarded for lost balls, three-putts and gloating on the tee or on the green, among many other rules that the 20-plus competitors grappled with on the day.

Most importantly the event raised over AED3,000 (around €600) for the MacMillan Cancer Trust, with proceeds going towards a major charity walk being undertaken by Mars International’s Martyn Westbury.

Valora Trade’s Dan Kongsted (below) boosted the total by €1,000 by bidding for a putter that was supplied by James Kfouri and auctioned on the day. The putter was signed by Ryder Cup Captain Colin Montgomerie, who was also at the course yesterday to host a HSBC event, and who spent time with the Pinkie Pairs golfers before their round.

The attention now moves to Dubai Duty Free’s showpiece event, with James Kfouri aiming to retain the title he captured last year. After his ‘Pinkie’ performance, don’t rule it out…

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