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Gulf Today
03-03-2025
- Sport
- Gulf Today
Emirati ace Skaik secures historic gold at GCC Golf Championship
The UAE men's and youth – U18 – teams competed in the 2025 GCC Golf Championship at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in Saudi Arabia. Making history by firing the lowest score ever recorded in the GCC Golf Championships, Ahmad Skaik ran away with the Gold Medal with an impressive 18-under-par (-18) final score. With Skaik's historic score, he led the way for the UAE men's team to capture their first ever team gold medal. With rounds of 67-69-66-68, for a championship total of 270, 18-under-par (-18), Skaik finished 15 shots clear of the silver medallist. This was an unprecedented finish and the largest lead in the GCC Golf Championship's individual category history. Jonathan Selvaraj finished with the bronze medal in the individual category shooting four-over-par (+4) just one shot ahead of Sam Mullane who finished in fourth place. Rayan Ahmed rounded out the men's team, finishing in sixth place with a score of nine-over-par (+9). Skaik said: 'I was hitting the ball very well all week, especially off the tee, which gave me a lot of wedges for my approach shot. With my putter on, I only made five bogeys, 21 birdies, and one eagle. This, by far, is my best score in a tournament. With all four rounds in the 60s, this was something I've wanted to accomplish. 'I have been working on a lot of tempo and force plate work, which I think has helped a lot. I look forward to taking this finish into the rest of the UAE season and into the summer.' In addition to the two medal finishes, the men's team also collected the first-ever gold medal in the team category, finishing 20-under-par (-20), a commanding 37 stroke difference between themselves and the second place – the team from Qatar. Bahrain won the bronze medal in the team category. In the U18 (Youth Division), Team UAE captured the Bronze Medal. Leading the way was Mohammed Thabet, who shot 22-over-par. Thabet also collected the bronze medal in the individual category. Abdulla Kalbat finished in ninth Place, and Abdulla Salmeen finished in 15th Place in the individual category. General Abdullah Alhashmi, Vice Chairman, said: 'We have truly shattered records with an incredible performance. A heartfelt thank you to our incredible players for their hard work and determination. A special appreciation to the entire coaching staff and my warmest congratulations to Khalid Mubarak, for his leadership and dedication. 'This was a true team effort, and I couldn't be prouder. As Vice Chairman of the Federation, it fills me with immense pride to witness such achievements. Let's keep this momentum going and continue striving for excellence.' Played at the Royal Greens and Country Club, this year's GCC Golf Championship was the 16th edition of the Youth Championship and the 27th edition of the Men's Championship. Royal Green is an 18-hole championship golf course that has played host to European Tour, LIV Golf, Asian Tour, and Ladies European Tour events. The men's championship was played over four rounds, with the top three scores from the team contributing per round. The youth competition was played over three rounds, with the top two scores per round contributing to the teams' overall results.
Khaleej Times
27-02-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
UAE dominates GCC Golf Championship, clinches historic gold in Saudi Arabia
The UAE Men's Golf Team delivered a dominant performance at the 2025 GCC Golf Championship, claiming the gold medal for the first time in history at the prestigious Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Led by an inspired Ahmad Skaik, the team stormed to victory with a staggering 38-shot winning margin. Skaik was in a league of his own, clinching the Individual Gold Medal in the Men's Division with a sensational four-round total of 270 (18 under-par). His rounds of 67, 69, 66, and 68 gave him a commanding 15-shot lead over the field—a margin unmatched in recent GCC golf history. Qatar's Daniil Sokolov claimed the Silver Medal at three-under-par (285), while UAE's Jonathan Selvaraj took Bronze, finishing seven shots behind Sokolov. Besides Team Captain Ahmad Skaik, the UAE's winning squad featured, Jonathan Selvaraj, Sam Mullane, and Rayan Ahmed, a formidable lineup that left the competition trailing in their wake. Wind, Grit, and Glory Reflecting on the victory, team member Sam Mullane acknowledged the challenging conditions and told Khaleej Times: 'It was not easy out there this week – it was typically windy, and the conditions were firm. We must congratulate our team Captain, Ahmad Skaik, for a brilliant performance – winning by a remarkable 15 shots.' While the senior team celebrated their triumph, the UAE's rising stars in the Under-18 Boys' Division also made their mark. The team secured a Bronze Medal, with Oman taking Gold and Kuwait claiming Silver. Individually, UAE's Mohammed Thabet put up a strong fight to win the Gold Medal in the Under-18 category, showcasing his potential with rounds of 88, 76, and 74. A Landmark Moment for UAE Golf Reacting to the historic achievement, General Abdullah AlHashmi, Vice-Chairman of the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF), lauded the team's performance and its significance for UAE golf. 'We celebrate an exceptional achievement in the history of UAE golf, as our Men's National Team has won the GCC Golf Championship for the first time,' he said. 'Additionally, our Under-18 team secured a Bronze third-place podium position, despite competing with players from the Under-16 category, highlighting the remarkable progress and development of UAE golf.' AlHashmi credited the success to years of hard work, strategic planning, and the leadership of Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, along with the Federation's management, technical staff, and administrative team. AlHashmi reserved special praise for Skaik, calling his record-breaking performance 'a historic achievement for both himself and UAE golf at the Gulf, Arab, regional, and international levels.' Looking ahead, AlHashmi emphasized that this victory is just the beginning of a larger journey. 'Our ambitions are greater, and our goals are even bigger. Today, our National Golf Teams stand as a competitive force in the GCC region, and we are engaged in a strong battle for dominance at the Arab level, particularly against Morocco, one of the strongest teams in the region.' With the continued backing of the UAE's leadership, he expressed confidence that the nation's golf program would reach new heights. 'We anticipate that at least one of our players will turn professional next year, stepping up to compete with the world's best and proudly raising the UAE flag in international tournaments, with the ultimate goal of representing our country at the Los Angeles Olympics.' With this groundbreaking victory, UAE golf has made a resounding statement—one that signals a new era of success on the regional and international stage. The UAE delegation in Saudi Arabia was led by Khaled Mubarak and UAE Golf Coach Faycal Serghini. Final 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 Top Individual Scores (Par 72): Gold – Ahmad Skaik (UAE): 67, 69, 66, 68 (270) Silver – Daniil Sokolov (Qatar): 70, 69, 71, 75 (285) Bronze – Jonathan Selvaraj (UAE): 77, 66, 73, 76 (292) 4. Sam Mullane (UAE) – 293 5. S. Al Kaabi (Qatar) – 294 6. Rayan Ahmed (UAE) – 297 7. K. Al Kaabi (Bahrain) – 297
