The Dubai Challenge Match line-up with Catriona Matthew third from the right (image by courtesy of the Ladies European Tour website; click on it to enlarge).

Nordqvist and Gustafson win Omega Dubai Ladies

Masters Match with a birdie at the final hole

FROM THE LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
The players with Mohamed Juma Buamaim, vice chairman and CEO of golf in DUBAi, before the start of the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters Match, sponsored by Jumeirah Golf Estates
DUBAI — Anna Nordqvist and Sophie Gustafson birdied the closing hole to win the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters Challenge Match, sponsored by Jumeirah Golf Estates, at Emirates Golf Club’s par-3 course on Monday.
The Swedish duo, leading by one shot going into the final round of a greensomes format competition, kept up their dominance to see off the challenge of their nearest rivals In-Kyung Kim (US) and Anja Monke (Germany), who also picked up a shot on the final hole.
The star US pairing of Michelle Wie and Christina Kim finished on level par, one stroke ahead of England’s four-time major winner Laura Davies and the 2009 British Open champion Catriona Matthew.
New Swedish sensation Nordqvist, who has became an instant celebrity after her stunning win in the 2009 LPGA Championship in only her fifth start on the tour, provided a glimpse of her precocious talent when she drilled her tee shot close to the pin, agonisingly missing out on a hole-in-one feat by just two inches.
“It was a great fun,” Christina said, echoing the feelings of fellow professionals. “I think it’s a great concept and it should be played more often ahead of the main tournaments where it’s a serious business. I think the fans also love watching us play in a relaxed atmosphere,” she said.
“It was a dream for me to play in Dubai and I thank golf in DUBAi for inviting me to play here. I would love to come back here next year. The (Majlis) course is great and the hospitality simply excellent,” said Christina, who is one of the most exciting players on the LPGA Tour because of her animated and vocal style of play.
The eight players, who featured in the Challenge Match, were selected the basis of their rankings and, of course, for their star value on the tour," said Mohamed Juma Buamaim, vice-chairman of golf in DUBAi, the promoters and organisers of the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters.
"The intention behind organising this fun-filled event is try and encourage more and more golf fans to come to the Emirates Golf Club and cheer the leading professional lady golfers who would be competing in the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, he Buamaim, who praised the players for vitaully putting on a clinic in wedge play.
About the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, starting on Wednesday, he said: “All the fans will have easy access to the course as there is no entry fee. We have made elaborate arrangements to ensure that fans enjoy the proceedings on all four days of the tournament. A giant TV screen will be installed in the 'public village' for them to catch up the live action," he said.
"Different food and beverage outlets, charity putt competitions and free golf clinics will further add to the carnival-like atmosphere at the village," Buamaim said, adding: "We thank Jumeirah Golf Estates for sponsoring the Challenge Match."
'golf in DUBAi' is backed by Omega as the title sponsor and Dubal (Dubai Aluminium) as the sponsor while BMW, CNN, Emirates Airline, Emirates NBD, Gulf News, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Jumeirah Group, MasterCard and wasl are co-sponsors of the event in its drive to showcase the emirate's vibrant golfing scene to a worldwide audience.
The Challenge match results:
1. Sophie Gustafson (Sweden) and Anna Nordqvist (Sweden) — three under par
2. In Kyung Kim (US) and Anja Monke (Germany) — two under
3. Michelle Wie (US) and Christina Kim (US) — Level par
4. Laura Davies (England) and Catriona Matthew (Scotland) — one over