Battle of the Continents
Competitive golf and banter. Lots of banter.
The ink is barely dry on the 2016-17 result and the first qualifiers for the 6th edition of the NMT Battle of the Continents still six months away. But when global golfing glory is at stake at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club, it seems the banter never sleeps.
The captains for the club’s popular intercontinental teams event have been unveiled with Mike Robson (pictured in white shorts) to skipper two-time defending champions Europe against Sammy Ramadas (Asia/second left), Nathan Fisher (Africa and Middle East/ right) and Thomas Murdoch (Australasia & Americas/left).
Each continent holds an open qualifier to find three gross and five net players to join their respective captain in a grand final in early 2018. The nine final fourballs then includes a player from each continent playing a unique version of matchplay with four points awared to the player with most stableford points over 18 holes, with three points for second and so on.
In the most recent final Europe triumphed with 26.5 points from Asia (23), Africa and Middle East (21.5) and Americas and Australasia (19). The “noble wooden spoon” placing for Americas and Australasia hasn’t stopped captain Murdoch talking up his team.
“My team, by a mile,” joked Murdoch when asked for his prediction in 2017-18. “This year you have four captains who all know each other very well and already enjoy serious competition on the course each week so it will be a unique strategic challenge for each of us to pick, develop and drive our teams to victory and ultimately external bragging rights. My team this year can look forward to several high-profile training sessions and motivational speakers as we seek to eliminate our poor history in the BOTC!
“Will there be some ringers flown over from Australia & USA? Possibly.”
Your retort, captain Robson? “Any opportunity to play a team event in what is usually a singular sport is welcomed. Add in the fact that my three opposing captains are friends and highly capable golfers and it should mean that both the captain’s battle and also the overall event has even more friendly needle than usual. It will be Europe, Asia, Africa & ME and Australasia & Americas, in that order!”
The serious battle on the course and banter off it is why Captain Vivian Verma from NMT International, a logistics provider to the global shipping industry, has sponsored the event from its inauguration. He even had the honour of captaining Team Asia to victory in the second year, sandwiched between wins orchestrated by Ramli Sulaiman and Praven Sharma.
“SGSC, in my opinion, is one of the best clubs in the region. I have been a member of Al Badia and now at Dubai Creek and Sharjah. The course has always been in pristine condition, very good management and the added value is the friendly club atmosphere,” said Verma.
“I decided to sponsor the tournament from the beginning to initially get more events into the Sharjah golf calendar, had no other real motive. Since the beginning I have honestly had no monetary gains but I’m still quite happy to keep the event going as, since the inception, this tournament has grown in leaps and bounds.”
So, your prediction for 2017-18? “Of course, it has to be Team Asia,” said Verma. Let the banter…continue.