The UAE Under-16 Girls’ Team secured a thrilling Team Gold at the 2024 Pan Arab Ladies’ and Youth Golf Championships, showcasing their dominance in the 54-hole competition held at the picturesque Residences Golf Course in Gammarth, Tunisia. This remarkable win not only underscored their exceptional skills but also reinforced the UAE’s burgeoning reputation on the global golf scene. The formidable trio of Anca Mateiu, Aasiya Saleem, and Sara Abubaker not only clinched Team Gold but also swept the top three positions in the Individual Division. Anca’s impressive rounds of 66, 66, and 70 secured her a commanding seven-shot victory, while Aasiya’s scores of 66, 73, and 70 earned her second place. Sara completed the podium with rounds of 72, 69, and 70. This victory marked the team’s successful defense of their title from the previous year’s triumph at Riyadh Golf Club in Saudi Arabia, where Aasiya and Sara were also part of the winning squad.
After her final round, Anca expressed her excitement, saying, “It is thrilling to win the Individual Gold this week in the Division. Sara and Aasiya won the Team Gold last year, so it is gratifying to win this again for the UAE with these two girls.” She also extended her gratitude to the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) and the UAE support team for their encouragement. “It is remarkable to win five out of six Individual Medals from the two Divisions alongside a Gold and a Silver in the team. We have all had a fun week despite the variable weather that we are not accustomed to in Dubai,” she added.
In the competitive Ladies' Division, Morocco's Sofia Essakali emerged victorious, with the UAE’s Intissar Rich securing a commendable second place. Jamie Camero of the UAE took third after a dramatic countback, highlighting the intense competition among the 20 skilled players. In the Ladies' Team Division, Team Morocco claimed the top spot with an impressive score of 421, finishing seven shots ahead of the UAE. The UAE team, consisting of Intissar Rich, Jamie Camero, and Faye Alblooshi, delivered a robust performance, demonstrating their resilience and skill in a closely contested battle for the title. The Team events followed a format where the best two scores from each three-player team were counted daily.
Eleven countries participated in the event, including Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Tunisia, and the UAE. Both the Ladies’ and Girl’s Under-16 divisions were held over 54 holes, recognized as World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) events supported by The R&A, with WAGR points available. In the Girls Under-13 Division, Morocco secured the Gold and Bronze Individuals, while the home team Tunisia earned the Silver Individual. The Boys Under-18 and Boys Under-16 Divisions, both 54-hole events, will take place from September 27th to 29th, 2024, also with WAGR points. The Boy’s Under-13 Division, a 36-hole event, will be played over the same weekend.
