Former Abu Dhabi resident Chantal El Chaib emerged victorious over her younger sister Lara in a nail-biting playoff to clinch the 2024 Women’s English Under-25’s Championship at Woburn Golf Club on the Duchess Course. After 54 holes, the siblings were level at two-under-par 217, necessitating a playoff which favored 22-year-old Chantal. Lara, a UAE National Team player and UAE passport holder who is four years her junior, led by a stroke from Wales’ Luca Thompson going into the final round. Chantal, meanwhile, trailed by six shots. However, Chantal’s remarkable run of eight birdies, including four consecutive from holes 13-16, propelled her to the top of the leaderboard, joining Lara. Thompson fell back to third, four shots adrift, while Lara’s even-par round led to the playoff. Chantal’s stellar form continued into the first playoff hole, where she secured par while Lara missed her par putt, sealing a remarkable comeback win for Chantal.

“It’s a tremendous honor, honestly, I came here after the first round not expecting anything, as I played really bad,” said Chantal, who will play for the University of Georgia next season. “I was seven-over but then after yesterday’s round, I built up some confidence. And I told my sister, actually, I was like, watch out, I might win.” “I just felt confident going into today’s round, it’s my first win in an England Golf tournament so it’s really cool,” she added. “The turning point for me was that I was holing putts, whereas for the last two days, I couldn’t hole a single thing.” “I actually have no words, this has never happened. It’s our first tournament playing together in five years. In the playoff I was relaxed, obviously, because I was against my sister. I think that’s how I won - just by being relaxed and confident,” said Chantal.

Lara maintained a positive attitude despite the loss and said, “I’ll accept the loss today. I mean, I played well this week. I had a rough round the first day, but I played really well yesterday. Today was okay. It wasn’t the best, but it wasn’t the worst. At the end of the day, we’re sisters, it doesn’t really matter who wins here, our mum is happy either way!” Their parents do not play golf and they had their first golf lessons at Abu Dhabi City Golf Club. “We were encouraged to take up golf as, at the time, there was not much to do in Abu Dhabi. It was only when I was about 14 or 15 years old when I started to take golf seriously – as I saw the opportunity to go on a golf scholarship to the US,” said Chantal. Chantal has moved to college for her final year for the warmer weather and to get some more competitive golf all year round. She has won seven college events and was voted NEC Athlete of the Year. She will fly to the US early in August. Lara will soon be going to the US to start her golf scholarship at Jacksonville State University in Alabama. The sisters will return to Abu Dhabi for their winter college break later in the year.

Results El Chaib (Foxhills and Yas Links Abu Dhabi) 80. 70. 67. 217. El Chaib (Foxhills and Yas Links Abu Dhabi) 76. 68. 73. 217. Thompson (Pavenham Park) 73. 72. 76. 221.