Ahmad Skaik of the UAE fired a second-round 66 to contend for the 54-hole UAE Cup and lead after the first round of the 36-hole UAE National Championship at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club. The UAE Cup, sponsored by HSCV, saw intense competition at Al Ain Equestrian, with Skaik securing a share of third place in the Men’s Elite Division with a 36-hole total of one under par 139. Joining Skaik in the chase is Jonathan Selvaraj (UAE), who shot a solid 68, matching Skaik’s round. Selvaraj, the reigning EGF Men’s Order of Merit champion and a past winner of the Al Ain Men’s Open, is proving his mettle once again.
At the top of the leaderboard, Australia’s Coby Carruthers, who led after the first round, now shares the lead with Switzerland’s Jean-Leon Aeschlimann, both players at an impressive five-under-par 135. With one round to play, Sunday promises fierce competition as the UAE’s top golfing talents aim to make their mark. “I knew I had a good score in me today following my first round 73,” Skaik told Khaleej Times. “I had a lot of confidence. I played well. Highlights of the day were tricky up and down in two on hole 16 and a drive and a five iron to 14 feet on the home hole – a par 5 – where I just missed my eagle.”
In the Women’s Division, Shixin Kang (China) shot rounds of 69 and 68 for a three-under-par total, one shot ahead of first-round leader Prim Prachnakorn (Thailand) on two. The Elite Division is a qualifier for World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points, supported by The R&A. Players from 30 countries, including the UAE, are competing, with the Men’s Champion earning a spot on a Challenge Tour event and the Women’s Champion earning a spot on the Ladies European Tour (LET). The Men’s Elite champion will also receive an exemption to the Asian Tour’s Final Stage Qualifying to be held in December 2024 at Lakeview Resort and Golf Club, in Hua Hin, Thailand.
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