UAE golfer Rayan Ahmed has shown his commitment to maintaining a 'laser-focused' approach towards his objectives as he prepares to compete in the 76th US Junior Amateur Championship at Oakland Hills Country Club on Monday.
Seventeen-year-old Ahmed, who holds a UAE passport, is the first golfer from the UAE to participate in the US Junior Amateur Championship. He secured an exemption from qualifying rounds due to his position in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR). A total of 264 golfers from 36 countries will compete in 36 holes across two days on the North and South Courses at Oakland Hills, with the top 64 advancing to the matchplay stages starting Wednesday.
"It's incredible to be playing alongside the world's top juniors and potentially meeting legends like Charlie Woods and his father," Rayan stated. "My focus is solely on making the cut and performing my best in the match play."
Ahmed has had a stellar 2023-2024 season, winning both individual and team gold at the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Golf Championship in Qatar, and narrowly missing the cut at the Abu Dhabi Challenge in April during his European Challenge Tour debut. He also dominated the 2024 GCC Youth Games at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, winning by 14 strokes, and placed 15th in the Emirates Golf Federation Men’s Order of Merit.
Ahmed's recent achievements include qualifying for the US Amateur Championship with a three under par 69 at Columbine Country Club, tying as a joint medalist. The US Amateur Championship is scheduled for August 12th-18th at Hazeltine in Chaska, Minnesota, a venue known for hosting major golf events.
Other participants in the US Junior Championship include Jordan's Mohammad Alrawashdeh and Mousa Shana’ah. The 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur features 36 countries, including notable players like Charlie Woods and Louis Klein.
Past winners of the US Junior Amateur include golf stars such as Jordan Spieth, Scottie Scheffler, Will Zalatoris, Min Woo Lee, Michael Thorbjornsen, and Nick Dunlap.
Rayan Ahmed has also been recognized with the inaugural Viggo Sorensen UAE Scratch Golf League award, highlighting his promising career and contributions to UAE's golf scene.
