By Chiara Noja
On day two we witnessed very strong winds following yesterday’s rain – which, with the tree lined course here at the $500,000 ARAMCO Team Series at Centurion Club, made it another challenging day.
It really has been a week of firsts: yesterday was the worst weather I have seen overall and today the windiest day ever, with gusts of up to 50 mph.
The strength of the wind was illustrated by my final hole, the par five 18th playing at 431 yards: I had a third shot of 108 yards. I took an eight iron, and this club usually goes 150 yards. My dad, caddying for me this week, has an almost human like computer in his head and he can adjust yardages with the wind – into, against or even cross wind – like a calculator in a matter of seconds.
When the ball landed on the green it was a huge relief and I holed the 20 foot putt to finish in style in front of the impressive corporate hospitality facilities.
At 1.39 pm today play was suspended due to the threat of lightning and a passing rainstorm and we resumed back out on the golf course at 3.10 pm.
It has been another long day: I arrived at the club for breakfast this morning at around 6 am and handed in my card just before 4 pm – so it has been a 10 hour day and it is not finished yet.
I shot a second round one over par 74 to go along with yesterday’s 73 to be one over after 36 holes to be in tied 17th when I handed my card in. The wind is forecast to stay strong for the rest of today (I hope it even gets stronger!), and following the 91 minute delay the field will not all finish their rounds today. Those who do not finish will return in the morning and then the cut will be made to the top 60 players and ties and the final round played tomorrow (Sunday).
I did not play my best golf today, but I was proud to birdie the par 5’s on holes 15 and 18. I hung in there, as they say and got it round. I had three poor holes: the 12th to the 14th – where I dropped three shots in three holes.
The Team event over 36 holes, with three scores from the team of four counting on each hole, saw us finish on 15 under par and tied ninth when I handed in our card.
This is the first time I have played this golf course – it is playing at 6,411 yards and a par 73 – but with the wind, the yardages and the par are not that important – you have to be strong mentally to survive days like this.
Wish me luck for tomorrow – I am tired and am looking forward to a decent rest tonight. I am sure I will sleep well.
Dubai Sports Channel will broadcast the final round tomorrow (Sunday):
4 pm – 8 pm (UAE times).
