Aasiya Saleem and Rayan Ahmed, two young talents from the UAE golf scene, received significant acclaim for their outstanding performances at the 54-hole Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) Junior Championship, which took place at the renowned Manila Southwoods Golf & Country Club in the Philippines.
Their remarkable performance on the international stage highlights the increasing quality of golf talent emerging from the UAE. Saleem, the Ladies Club Champion at Montgomerie Golf Club, secured a tied fifth place in the Girl’s Division, while Ahmed finished tied 14th in the Boy’s Division. Saleem’s rounds of 74, 70, and 72 over the 6,045-yard, par 72 course were particularly noteworthy, especially her comeback from four over par after two holes in her second round to finish four under par in her final 34 holes.
Ahmed, on the other hand, recorded rounds of 73, 79, and 70, ending the tournament six over par on the 7,053-yard layout. Ahmed’s summer was packed with competitions in the USA, including appearances in the US Amateur Championship and the US Junior Amateur Championship.
The Girl’s Individual Division was claimed by Hong Kong, the Boy’s Individual by Thailand, and the Mixed Team event by South Korea. UAE National Coach Cameron Van Rooyen expressed his admiration for the UAE teams’ efforts, stating, “I have been impressed with the work ethic and hard work from all four UAE players. This is an elite standard for their age group, and we must commend them all. This will hopefully serve as a solid foundation for the busy UAE golfing calendar ahead of them.”
Van Rooyen also noted, “The competition was fierce, the standard of golf was high, and the unusual wet weather conditions presented a new challenge for the UAE players.” Additionally, Mohammad Skaik and Anca Mateui, who competed in the team event, gained valuable international experience.
The championship was open to juniors aged 17 or under and featured participants from various countries, including Chinese Taipei, Guam, Hong Kong, India, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mongolia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, the host Philippines, and the UAE, as well as a special invitation to the European Golf Association.
