Emirates, the Dubai-based international airline, has extended its support to the Royal Malta Golf Club for the third year by sponsoring one of the most popular golf competitions to be held at the Club in the Marsa Sports Ground.

The Emirates Golf Challenge 2005, which has now become a standard fixture in the Royal Malta Golf Club's calendar, will be taking place on Thursday 2, Saturday 4 and Sunday 5June.

Following the success of last year's games, the challenge will be played in the same manner with the ladies playing on Thursday, while the men will compete on Saturday. The mixed competition will be held on Sunday.

Prizes will be awarded for best ladies' score and the best gentleman's score. The overall winner and runner up will receive two Emirates return air tickets each to Dubai. The prize presentation ceremony will be held on Sunday afternoon.

"This year's Emirates Golf Competition promises to be another well contested event, with

around 90 entries already received," said Anthony Bonello, secretary of The Royal Malta Golf Club. "We have enjoyed working with Emirates for the past two years and we are very pleased that the airline will continue to support golf in Malta.

Last year's winner of the Emirates Golf Challenge was Natal Azzopardi and Ken Waddington was the runner up.

Emirates is a prominent golf supporter, sponsoring high-profile events such as the European Tour's Dubai Desert Classic, BMW International Open in Germany and BMW Asian Open in Shanghai.