The Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) has praised the UAE girls' teams for their exceptional performance at the 54-hole Pan Arab Ladies’ and Youth Golf Championships in Tunisia, where they secured an impressive seven medals. Leading the way was the UAE Under-16 Girls’ team, comprising Anca Mateiu, Aasiya Saleem, and Sara Abubaker, who dominated the Individual event and also won Team Gold. Anca’s consistent rounds of 66, 66, and 70 secured her a commanding seven-shot victory and the gold medal, with teammate Aasiya finishing second after rounds of 66, 73, and 70. Sara completed the podium with rounds of 72, 69, and 70.
“We are all delighted with the remarkable performances of our UAE girls and UAE Ladies – both in the Individual and Team Divisions,” said General Abdullah Alhashmi, Vice-Chairman of the EGF, in an interview with Khaleej Times. “To claim Gold and Silver Team Medals is beyond our expectations – and to win five out of six Individual Medals demonstrates our strength and depth in these divisions. It also indicates that we are on the right track with our UAE Golf Development Programme.”
The EGF's dedication to promoting the sport among women is clear, and this success marks a significant milestone for female golfers in the UAE. “The standard of golf in the Middle East is rising rapidly, particularly among females – and we are proud that our UAE girls have excelled in Tunisia – well done, girls!” added Alhashmi.
Reflecting on her gold medal-winning performance, Anca Mateiu expressed her excitement: “It is thrilling to win the Individual Gold this week in the division. Sara and Aasiya won the Team Gold last year, so it’s great to win this again for the UAE with these two girls.” She also acknowledged the support behind the team’s success, thanking the EGF and the UAE support team for their encouragement.
In the Ladies’ Division, Morocco’s Sofia Essakali emerged victorious, with UAE’s Intissar Rich finishing second and Jamie Camero (UAE) securing third place on a countback. In the Ladies Team Division, Team Morocco claimed victory with a score of 421, while the UAE Team finished seven shots behind to take the silver medal. Faye Alblooshi was the third member of the UAE Ladies’ Team.
The Boys Under-18 and Boys Under-16 Divisions, both 54-hole events, are World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) tournaments supported by The R&A. They will take place from Friday to Sunday, September 29, 2024. Alhashmi said: “In a couple of days, we will see our UAE Boys in action in the Under-18’s and Under-16’s Pan Arab Youth Golf Championship, again in Tunisia. We wish them well and look forward to witnessing more positive performances against the best golfers in the Arab world at their age.”
Players from Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Tunisia, and the UAE will be in action. The UAE Boys’ Teams include Mohammed Skaik, Neyl Cherrat, and Rayan Ahmed in the Under-18 division, while Mohammad Thabet, Abdullah Darwish, and Abdulla Salmeen will represent the Under-16 division.
