The Golden Teens of Oman
After three consecutive years of finishing second, Oman's young golfers delivered a stellar performance at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, securing their place at the top of Gulf junior golf.
The trio of Adam Al Barwani (234), Mahir Sampat (253), and Pransh Jagwani (254) combined for a total score of 484, edging out Kuwait on countback after both teams finished level. The UAE secured third place with 493, followed by Bahrain (495), Qatar (516), and Saudi Arabia (523).
Adding to Oman's success, Adam capped off the team's dominant showing by winning the individual silver medal (234), finishing second in the U18 category behind Kuwait's Salem Al Abkal (223). The UAE's Mohammed Thabet (238) claimed bronze.
The victory represents a significant moment for Oman's young golfers, who have been steadily improving under the Oman Golf Association's (OGA) structured training and development programmes.
Dedication of the teenagers, competitive exposure, and investment in youth golf are now paying off, with this title marking a new era for the sport in the country.
Reflecting on the team's triumph, Mahir, a key player in Oman's gold-winning squad, expressed his pride.
He said: 'I am delighted to win the gold medal at the GCC Championships for my country. I'm very glad that the commitment and hard work paid off, which led to an excellent result in the team category. I look forward to winning more medals for Oman in the years to come.'
His teammate Adam, who not only contributed to the team gold but also secured individual silver, echoed similar sentiments. 'Winning gold as a team and adding an individual silver is an incredible feeling. This victory is the result of years of hard work and dedication, and I am proud to be part of this historic moment for Oman golf. I hope we can build on this and achieve even greater success in the future,' said Adam.
Completing the golden trio, Pransh acknowledged the significance of the moment and the team's collective effort. He said: 'To be part of Oman's first-ever gold-winning U18 team is an unforgettable experience. We've pushed each other to improve, and this win is proof of the progress we've made. I'm grateful for the support from our coaches and the Oman Golf Association, and I can't wait to compete again.'
A top OGA official said: 'The OGA's focus on structured coaching, international exposure, and providing young players with elite competition opportunities is now translating into tangible results.'
'This is a proud moment for Omani golf,' said Ahmed Al Jhdhamy, OGA secretary general. 'The boys have worked incredibly hard, and this gold is a testament to the vision we have in place to establish a strong future for the sport. This win will inspire even more young golfers to take up the game.'
The team was accompanied by coach Alex Day.
Adding further significance to the triumph, it was announced during the closing ceremony that Oman will host the next edition of the GCC Golf Championship.
The tournament flag was officially handed over to the Omani delegation, and was received by Salim Al Busaidi, Counsellor, Oman Embassy in Jeddah, marking the beginning of preparations for Oman's turn to welcome the region's best golfers.
Oman's men's team struggles
While the U18 team celebrated a historic victory, Oman's men's team, comprising Azzan Al Rumhi, Badar Al Amri, Ahmed Al Wahaibi, and Amjad Al Toky, endured a challenging outing, failing to reach the podium in both individual and team categories.
The UAE's Ahmed Skaik secured the men's individual gold, followed by Qatar's Daniel Sokolov in second place and the UAE's Jonathan Silveraj in third.
In the men's team category, the UAE dominated once again, taking gold ahead of Qatar and Bahrain.
Final men's team standings: Gold: UAE (210, 210, 212, 212 – total: 844), Silver: Qatar (215, 221, 219, 227 – total: 882), Bronze: Bahrain (226, 219, 221, 221 – total: 887), 4. Saudi Arabia: 908, 5. Oman: 965, 6. Kuwait: 1003.
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