(Dubai, UAE) – The Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) is starting the New Year by launching a new partnership Tee & Putt Mini Golf. With three different mini golf locations, Tee & Putt Mini Golf has facilities to impact the entire United Arab Emirates (UAE).
One of the goals for the EGF is to provide benefits to its members with special offers linked to its membership. With this new partnership all EGF Members that produce their EGF card at one of the Tee & Putt Mini Golf facilities will receive 15% off a round of mini golf. Tee & Putt Mini Golf has also offered special Birthday offers for all EGF Members.
Tee & Putt Mini Golf offers three different “glow in the dark” mini golf courses. The three courses are located at Wafi Mall, Arabian Center, and Dalma Mall.
“This is a great way for the EGF Members to receive more from their membership. Added benefits like these will bring an added value to the EGF Membership”.
“This is also a great way for parents to introduce the game of golf to their kids. There is nothing better than a fun night out with the family playing Mini Golf”, said Robert Fiala EGF Sales and Marketing Manager.
Rashi Panjabi Director of Tee & Putt Mini Golf has this to say about the new partnership “We are very excited for this mutually beneficial partnership with Emirates Golf Federation. We look forward to working together with the golfing community. Tee & Putt is a versatile and ideal location for family outing, birthdays, team building, competitions, fairs, tournaments or any customized events that EGF members are looking for at an affordable price”
To view full disruption of the Tee & Putt Mini Golf partnership and benefits please revert to the EGF Website at www.egfgolf.com under the promotions page. While on the website check out the other great offers that EGF Members receive.
00adminhttps://egfgolf.ae/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/EN-nav-logo-white.pngadmin2016-01-03 09:39:132023-01-08 22:36:37EGF Partners With Tee & Putt Mini Golf for 2016
(Abu Dhabi, UAE)– The Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) National Junior Development Program (NJDP) has been in full swing over the winter break. From December 20th – 31st, 2015 the players from NJDP have been involved in daily training sessions in order to maintain a competitive edge on the golf course. The winter camp was held at the European Tour Performance Institute (ETPI) at Jumeirah Golf Estates as well Yas Links Golf Club in Abu Dhabi.
National Team Performance Coach David Condon & Mohammed Abdulla Saeed discussing the slopes of a green
With national golfers residing in the entire United Arab Emirates (UAE) and actively participating in the National Junior Development Program, it is important for the EGF to provide training session in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
National Team Coach, Greg Holmes and National Team Performance Coach David Condon in additional to the ETPI Coaches Mark Gregson-Walters, Tim Backhouse, and Mathew Parker have made sure each player was training at a high level. The Juniors were exposed to all areas of player development which includes swing technique, all areas of short game, pre shot routines, course management, and practicing in measured conditions.
To find out more information on the National Junior Development Program please revert to the EGF website at www.egfgolf.com.
00adminhttps://egfgolf.ae/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/EN-nav-logo-white.pngadmin2015-12-30 12:04:352023-01-08 22:36:37The National Junior Development Program Holds Winter Camp in Dubai & Abu Dhabi
(Dubai, UAE) – As 2015 is coming to an end the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) hosted the last National Monthly Medal of the year at The Els Club on December 19, 2015. With the temperatures in the mid 20’s (Celsius) and clear blue skies the players could not ask for better conditions to end the year.
Winners of the December 2015 National Monthly Medal at The Els Club
After winning the 2015 Maintenance Team Award at the MEGAs (Middle East Golf Awards) two days before, the course at The Els Club continued to amaze players. “It’s always great to play here at The Els Club. Every time we play on this course the greens and fairways are continuously in the best conditions’’, said Khalid Mubarak Al Shamsi, Secretary General of the EGF.
With the top prizes sponsored by Prosports International the players had more of an incentive to play hard this month. The overall winner of the December 2015 National Monthly Medal was National Team Junior Obaid Al Heloo. At 11 years old Obaid shot a career best 88 gross score. Obaid won the event and the Junior Division with 43 Stableford Points.
The Runner-Up and winning after a count back, with 34 Stableford points was Khalid Yousef. Rounding out the top three, in Third Place was Bader Abdulnoor Ahli with 34 points.
The Best Gross Award also went to Khalid Yousef. Khalid shot a 3-over-par, 75, with a front nine 38 and a back nine 37.
Awards were also given based on handicap with an A-Division (0-14 handicap) and B-Division (14-24 handicap) winners. Winning the A-Division Prize was Sultan Al Ali with 28 Stableford Points. Hamda Al Suwaidi won the Division-B prize with 29 Stableford Points.
In the Junior Division, Obaid Al Heloo was the clear winner by 10 points, with his 43 points. The Runner-Up was Reema Al Heloo with 33 points and the Third Place prize went to Mohammed Al Hajeri with 32 points.
The event had On Course Challenges for both the Adults and Juniors that added competition to the day. Winning the Adult Longest Drive Award on Hole 9 was Sohail Al Marzouqi. Winning the Adult Nearest to the Pin Award on Hole 11 was Hamda Al Suwaidi. The winner of the Junior Longest Drive Award on Hole 18 was Remma Al Heloo. Wrapping up the On Course Challenges, Alia Al Emadi won the Junior Nearest to the Pin Award on Hole 4.
The EGF would like to wish all of its Members and the UAE Golf Clubs a Happy Holidays. If you are an EGF Member remember to renew your EGF Membership before January 31, 2016. To renew or sign up revert to the EGF Website at www.egfgolf.com
Keep in touch with the EGF and the UAE National Golf Teams by following the Emirates Golf Federation on social media and at the website.
00adminhttps://egfgolf.ae/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/EN-nav-logo-white.pngadmin2015-12-20 05:55:002023-01-08 22:36:5511-Year-Old Obaid Al Heloo Prevails In The Last National Monthly Medal of 2015
(Al Ain, UAE) – On December 10th – 12th, 2015 the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) hosted the 2015 Junior & Ladies Arab Golf Championship at Al Ain Equestrian Shooting & Golf Club (AESGC). Morocco took two First Place finishes in the Team category as United Arab Emirates standout, Ahmed Skaik, competes with the best players at the Championship.
The 16th edition of Junior Arab Golf Championship and the 7th edition for Ladies Arab Golf Championship, under the Arab Golf Federation, had 10 countries with 73 players. The Championship hosted Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Morocco’s 18 & Under Team
Adel Zarouni Vice Chairman of the Emirates Golf Federation had this to say after the Championship, “The Emirates Golf Federation is proud to host Arab Youth, Junior, and Ladies Championship in Al Ain. This event shows the direction and strategy of the Federation in developing golf across all sectors. This tournament discovered a few unpolished jewels whom we will be developing for future champions”.
Morocco was the top winner as both, the 18 & Under and Ladies Team Categories were won by their teams. In the 18 & Under Division, Morocco was the clear winner with a team score of 435, winning by 10 shots. Tunisia took the Silver with a score of 445 and Egypt won the Bronze with a score of 452.
Saudi Arabia’s Saud Al-Sharf won the Individual category with rounds of 70-72-68 for an event total of 210, 2-under.
Ahmed Skaik
The UAE 18 & Under Team was made up of Ahmed Skaik, Mahmood Skaik , and Saeed Al Balooshi placed fifth in the Team category with a score of 472. Ahmad Skaik led the way with rounds of 80-71-72 for a total of 223. Ahmed placed sixth in the Individual category out of 25 players.
In the 15 & Under Division, Tunisia came out on top with a Team Score of 437. Just 4 shots back, Egypt won the Silver with a team score of 441. Coming in third place and winning the Bronze was Morocco with a score of 459.
Mehdi Ben Halima from Tunisia was the Individual winner in the 15 & Under Division after shooting rounds of 72-68-74 for a total of 214, 1-over.
The UAE 15 & Under Team was made up of Mohammed Al Hajeri, Obaid Al Heloo, and Khalil Kashwani. The team placed seventh with a score of 514. Top player and coming in ninth in the Individual category was Mohamed Al Hajeri, with rounds of 81-77-77 for a total of 237.
Morocco’s Gold Winning Ladies Team
Showing their strength, Morocco won the Gold in the Ladies Team Division by one point, with a score of 459. With a score of 460, Tunisia won the Silver. Rounding out the Top Three with a score of 496 was Egypt.
Winning the Individual category in the Ladies Division was Kanzah Al Athari from Tunisia. Al Athari shot three rounds of 74 for an event total 222.
The UAE Ladies Team was made up of Dr. Rabab Al Haj, Tara Al Marzooqi, and Reema Al Heloo. Leading the way in the Individual category was Tara Al Marzooqi with rounds of 97-86-86 for an event total of 269.
Greg Holmes, UAE National Team Head Coach said, “It was great to see that the UAE Teams are performing better as there were noticeable improvements on the back of the National Junior Development Program which is now in place. We saw some great individual performances from Ahmed Skaik, Mohammed Al Hajeri, and Tara Al Marzooqi. I know that these performances will inspire the entire program to work harder moving forward. The EGF is extremely proud of all the team and the hard work put into this event”.
00adminhttps://egfgolf.ae/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/EN-nav-logo-white.pngadmin2015-12-13 15:31:082023-01-08 22:36:55Morocco Triumphs at the 2015 Junior & Ladies Arab Golf Championship; A. Skaik Turns Heads for UAE
(Al Ain, UAE) – The Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) will be hosting the Junior and Ladies Arab Golf Championship at Al Ain Equestrian Shooting & Golf Club (AESGC) on December 10th – 12th, 2015. This three day event will have three different representing divisions – 18 & Under, 15 & Under, and Ladies – from 10 different Arab Countries.
The 16th edition of Junior Arab Golf Championship and the 7th edition for Ladies Arab Golf Championship falls under the Arab Golf Federation. The following countries – Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi, Tunisia, and host country United Arab Emirates (UAE) will all be in competition. With 10 countries and 3 divisions the championship will have a total of 70 players.
2014 UAE Arab Golf Championship Team
The host club, Al Ain Equestrian Shooting & Golf Club is located in Oasis City, Al Ain. AESGC is an 18-hole Championship Course that offers a scenic and perplexing experience for all golfers. With yardages tipping out at 6,839 yards this challenging course is the perfect venue for these skilled young amateur golfers.
The UAE will have three different division represented with an extra player in the Individual Ladies category. Playing on the 18 & Under team will be Ahmed Skaik, Obaid Al Heloo, and Saeed Al Balooshi. The 15 & Under Team will be composed of Mohamed Al Hajiri, Mahmood Skaik, and Khalil Kashwani.
Last years Runner Up Winners, the Ladies Team will have Dr. Rabab Al Haj, Tara Al Marzooqi, and Reema Al Heloo. Hamda Al Suwaidi will be playing for the UAE in the Individual Ladies category.
The three-day event will have Gold and Silver Winners for the Team and Individual Categories in all three divisions. For the Team Category, the final score will consist of the top two gross scores, out of three players each round, totaled after three rounds. The Individual Category will be scored as the best individual gross score from each division.
The Championship will kick off Wednesday night, December 9th, with an Opening Ceremony that will be graced by the Arab Golf Federation and Emirates Golf Federation Chairman H.E. Sheik Fahim Bin Sultan Al Qasimi.
Khalid Mubarak Al Shamsi, Secretary General of the Emirates Golf Federation had this to say about the event. “This tournament builds bridges of understanding and brotherhood to all representing countries of the Arab golf world. We are delighted to host the Junior and Ladies Arab Championship in the UAE and feel that Al Ain Equestrian Shooting & Golf Club is a great facility for the Championship. We are very happy to see such a large large number of male and female players who represent the future of Arab golf”.
00adminhttps://egfgolf.ae/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/EN-nav-logo-white.pngadmin2015-12-08 12:21:192023-01-08 22:36:55EGF To Host Junior and Ladies Arab Golf Championship in Al Ain
(Dubai, UAE) – In honor of the upcoming 44th United Arab Emirates (UAE) National Day the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) opened the 2015-2016 season by hosting a National Monthly Medal (NMM) at The Track – Meydan on Saturday, November 28th 2015. Winning the Overall Stableford competition was Hamda Al Suwaidi.
Winners of the November 2015 & 1st National Monthly Medal of the 2015-2016 Season.
This first NMM of the 2015-2016 season saw 32 players. Coming out on top and winning the event with a Stableford Score of 40 points was Hamda Al Suwaidi.
The Runner-Up was Rashid Al Suwaidi with 38 points. Rounding out the top three coming in Third Place after a count back was Reema Al Heloo with 37 points.
The Best Gross Award went to Rashid Hamood. Hamood shot a 4-over-par, 76. With a front nine score of 40 and a back nine score of 36, Hamood won on a back nine count back.
The event also had a Junior Division with 6 competitors. Winning the Junior Division was Reeema Al Heloo with 37 points. The Runner-Up was Mahmood Skaik with 33 points. The Third Place prize went to Mohammed Al Hajeri with 27 points.
During the event there were a number of On Course Challenges up for grabs. Taking home the Adult Longest Drive Award was Saeed Al Mutawaa. Winning the Adult Nearest to the Pin Award was Ismael Sharif. The winner of the Junior Longest Drive Award was Mahmood Skaik. Wrapping up the On Course Challenges, Reema Al Heloo won the Junior Nearest to the Pin Award.
At the award presentation the EGF took time out to recognize the upcoming 44th UAE National Day. Being that the EGF is under the guidance of the Ministry of General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare, this event was a great opportunity to celebrate this upcoming holiday.
With a busy month of December with international events and the upcoming holidays, the next UAE National Monthly Medal will take place in January. To stay up to date EGF and the UAE National Golf Teams follow the Emirates Golf Federation on social media and at www.egfgolf.com.
00adminhttps://egfgolf.ae/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/EN-nav-logo-white.pngadmin2015-11-28 14:53:202023-01-08 22:36:56EGF Opens 2015 – 2016 Season With National Monthly Medal in Honor of the 44th National Day; Hamda Al Suwaidi Wins the National Monthly Medal at Meydan with 40 Points
DUBAI, UAE: DP World has once again signalled its commitment to developing the game of golf at UAE National grassroots level in the United Arab Emirates by supporting the visit of Jean-Jacques Rivet, the Head of Biomechanics & Sports Performance from the European Tour Performance Institute (ETPI) in Terre Blanche, France, to work with the UAE National Teams at the facility in Dubai.
The swing biomechanics expert will give the team guidance that will optimise their skills at Jumeirah Golf Estates’ ETPI, which is one of only two of the state-of-the-art facilities in the world along with Terre Blanche.
Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman of DP World said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be able to support this fantastic initiative which offers us the chance to play a part in the development of our UAE National Golf Teams. The growth of the game in the region is extremely important to us and giving our local golfers access to a facility as admired as the European Tour Performance Institute offers them the opportunity to reach their fullest potential. I have no doubt that the knowledge and expertise of Jean-Jacques Rivet will be invaluable to our players.”
Rivet’s visit is part of a week long programme which has also seen the 21 of the European Challenge Tour players use the Jumeirah Golf Estates ETPI facilities and tap into the Frenchman’s expertise in preparation for next week’s crucial season-ending NBO Golf Classic Grand Final in Oman. The highlight of the week was the one-day ICAEW Challenge Tour Pro-Am which took place on Wednesday October 28.
Yousuf Kazim, CEO of Jumeirah Golf Estates said: “It’s been a great week and we’ve enjoyed having the European Challenge Tour players, the members of the ICAEW, Jean-Jacques Rivet, and of course, the UAE National Team here. We are very proud of our world class facilities and it is our intention that local and international golfers of all standards and international golf federations and associations use the Jumeirah Golf Estates European Tour Performance Institute so it is more than appropriate that the UAE National Golf Teams have access to the facility. With this initiative we hope to play our part in producing the golf superstars of tomorrow.”
Rivet is excited about the prospect working with the players again having already hosted them at the facility in France where they trained for 10 days in September in preparation for their recent performance at the Nomura Cup at Yas Links, Abu Dhabi.
“It’s great to visit our sister ETPI in Dubai,” said Rivet. “Like our facility in Terre Blanche, the facilities here are really state-of-the-art and amateur golfers in the UAE, as well as the professionals who visit here, are really fortunate to have a place like this to come and develop their games.
“The Director of Instruction, Mark Gregson-Walters and his team at the ETPI are very gifted coaches and I’m enjoying working with them and passing on some of our swing biomechanics techniques.
“I enjoyed hosting the UAE National Team in France in September and we did some great work so I’m really looking forward to continuing to develop some of the ideas we worked on and I’m sure they’ll get a great benefit from it.”
UAE National Team Head Coach Greg Holmes is delighted that his team are being given the chance to work with Rivet again, saying: “The team improved a lot from the trip to the Terre Blanche ETPI. Just using the body and the ground properly definitely benefitted them and helped control their swings.
“We had a great 10 days with Jean-Jacques and it’s fantastic that the team will have a chance to work with him again this week.”
The Emirates Golf Federation thanked DP World for its support in this initiative in helping to develop the game at amateur level in the region, with Secretary General Khaled Mubarak saying: “We’re very grateful for the support that DP World have given over the years to helping develop the game of golf in the UAE. People are obviously aware of their title sponsorship of the DP World Tour Championship, The European Tour’s season-ending event which features some of the top professionals in the game. But their sponsorship extends far beyond the professional game and this is the latest in a long line of initiatives DP World have supported with the aim of helping our local amateur golfers to improve.”
00adminhttps://egfgolf.ae/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/EN-nav-logo-white.pngadmin2015-11-03 13:37:342023-01-08 22:36:56DP WORLD SUPPORTS EMIRATES GOLF FEDERATION’S UAE NATIONAL TEAM WITH JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES EUROPEAN TOUR PERFORMANCE INSTITUTE (ETPI) INITIATIVE
Japan wins team event, Chinese superstar Cheng Jin the individual event and UAE team perform well for the future
(Abu Dhabi, UAE) – The first ever Nomura Cup to be held in the GCC was declared a fantastic success by David Cherry, the Chairman of the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation at the prize giving last night attended by His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak al Nahyan, the UAE’s Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development.
UAE TEAM – DAVID CONDON, KHALID YOUSOF AL JASMI, AHMED SKAIK, KHALID MUBARAK AL SHAMSI, RASHID HAMOOD, ABDULLA AL QUBAISI, GREG HOLMES
Cherry reiterated his comments from last week about Yas Links “being the best links golf course in the world” and congratulated The Emirates Golf Federation and specifically its Chairman His Excellency Sheikh Fahim Bin Sultan Al Qasimi and Vice Chairman Adel Zarouni for putting on such “a fantastic event for Asia’s future stars of golf.”
Zarouni was pleased with the success of the Organising Committee: “It was a team effort. The Emirates Golf Federation were delighted to be given the opportunity to host such a prestigious event. We attracted the Nomura Cup’s largest ever field. The world class winners of the team and individual events are testament to Abu Dhabi, Yas Links and all our sponsors and partners of a job well done.”
The Nomura Cup 2015 went right down to the final putts on Day Four where Team Japan came out victorious. Japan Captain Katsuii Hotta was incredibly proud of their first Nomura Cup victory in 26 years, as Japan builds for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. He dedicated the victory Head Coach Gareth Jones, who made it 3-0 in the Nomura Cup as he was previously coach of Australia for their last 2 victories.
“We started a new program just 3 weeks ago.” commented Hotta. “This is a great unimaginable result. This is all about Gareth Jones. The Gareth Jones effect!” A combined team scores of -22 was enough to grasp success from current Asian Games Golf Gold medallists Chinese Taipei.
China’s Cheng Jin picked up a second major amateur Asian prize within a month with scores of 67, 69, 70 and 69 (-13) winning the individual prize in Abu Dhabi. The 2015 winner of the Asian Pacific Amateur Championship Jin commented: “This was a good tournament for me personally but I am disappointed for my team. I am excited for April 2016 as I will live every golfer’s childhood dream by playing at the US Masters at Augusta National following my victory a few weeks ago. I really enjoyed playing Abu Dhabi this week and I hope that I will come back soon to play in the HSBC Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.”
The UAE finished 20th in the Tournament but 3rd behind Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in the GCC participants. Head Coach Greg Holmes was pleased overall: “The Emirates Team players performed well in hard conditions.”
UAE Captain Khalid Mubarak Al Shamsi was also pleased: “We need to remain realistic with our ambitions. We are scoring better than in previous Nomura Cups, so that’s good. We have two juniors in our team and they are learning which is important.”
“Ahmed Skaik, our youngest team member, was 3 under through 3 on the final day. For us, this is great. Our team is improving and learning to play better in high pressure tournaments and I am happy for the future.”
Skaik, only 18, learned a lot at Yas Links Abu Dhabi: “I thrived on the experience this week. I shot 4 back to back rounds in the 70s, which I have never done before in a tournament. It was a great learning experience for the future. ”
00adminhttps://egfgolf.ae/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/EN-nav-logo-white.pngadmin2015-10-26 16:08:482023-01-08 22:36:56UAE HOST FANTASTIC NOMURA CUP AT YAS LINKS ABU DHABI
Japan’s fourth man score pivotal to beating Chinese Taipei in Asia-Pacific Golf Team Championship victory at Yas Links Abu Dhabi.
ABU DHABI, UAE (October 25, 2015) – A 26-year wait is finally over for Japan as they have won the Asia-Pacific Golf Team Championship today at Yas Links Abu Dhabi. In a nail-biting countback finish, which called on Japan’s fourth man Toshiki Ishitoku’s closing round of 75 to count, the Japanese team edged out their competitors from Chinese Taipei to claim the 27th Nomura Cup.
TEAM JAPAN
Held at the world-renowned Yas Links Abu Dhabi from Thursday 22nd to Sunday 25th October, 27 teams from countries spanning the Asia-Pacific region descended on Abu Dhabi for the first time in the competition’s history.
The 72-hole strokeplay event in Abu Dhabi was organised by the Emirates Golf Federation and Yas Links Abu Dhabi on behalf of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation.
The event was eventually decided on countback, after both Japan and Chinese Taipei finished the week on a total of 842, 22-under par, collected from the best three of four scores each day. The Japanese Team of Daisuke Matsubara, Naoyuki Kataoka, Takumi Kanaya and Toshiki Ishitoku received the trophy from His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak al Nahyan, the UAE’s Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development during the Nomura Cup prize giving
Helped by an opening round 10-under par, 62 by Daisuke Matsubara, Team Japan have been on a sharp learning curve since welcoming their new coach, Gareth Jones little over three weeks ago. The team’s Captain, Katsuii Hotta was clearly buoyed by the victory and was quick to praise Japan’s new coach:
“It has been a long 26 years for Japan, this means a lot to us, this is huge. We started a new elite program just three weeks ago, this is a great and unimaginable start. This is all about Gareth Jones, The Gareth Jones effect! He really has led us to victory this week, as his preparation with technique and tactics have been fantastic. I let him control the team and I cannot thank him enough for what he has done.”
After a dominant recent spell from Australia who have won a record 10 Nomura Cups, the victory by Japan demonstrates their commitment to amateur golf, which Hotta can only see:
“With the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in mind, we are aiming for a gold medal. Last year, we hosted the World Amateur Championships and we didn’t do very well. But this is an important step for Japan. We are trying to build a better program for our best amateurs golfers. This new program is designed to produce more successful golfers for our future.”
The team from Chinese Taipei consisting of Han-Ting Chiu, Chun-An Yu, Yung-Hua Liu and Sun-Yi Lu had lead from Day One but faltered in the final few holes of the award winning Kyle Phillips designed course. Korea was third on 16-under beating who finished on 15-under and New Zealand on 13-under.
Chinese superstar Cheng Jin won the individual event at the Nomura Cup with a dominant 13-under par total. He will play in the 2016 US Masters following his victory earlier this month at the 2015 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship.
00adminhttps://egfgolf.ae/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/EN-nav-logo-white.pngadmin2015-10-25 19:08:322023-01-08 22:36:56JAPAN CLINCH 27th NOMURA CUP WITH THRILLING COUNTBACK CONCLUSION
Japan just three shots adrift of pacesetters heading into the final round of the
Asia-Pacific Golf Team Championship at Yas Links Abu Dhabi.
ABU DHABI, UAE (October 24, 2015) – Hang-Tin Chiu overcame a shaky finish to again be the low scoring arrowhead as Chinese Taipei remained on target to end an 18-year title drought at the 27th Nomura Cup today.
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – OCTOBER 24: Chun An Yu from Chinese Taipei. Action from the third round of the 27th Nomura Cup/Asia-Pacific Amateur Golf Team Championship at Yas Links Golf Course on October 24, 2015 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Last champions of the biennial Asia-Pacific Amateur Golf Team Championship in Hong Kong in 1997, Chinese Taipei will tonight sleep uncomfortably on a lead trimmed from five strokes to three by eight-time winners Japan during today’s third round at Yas Links Abu Dhabi.
Saturday is traditionally moving day in a 72-hole golf tournament and so it proved with much nervy drama down the stretch and snakes and ladders action on the leaderboard.
Chinese Taipei lead on 622 to Japan’s 625 but made no progress in the third round, remaining 25 under par overall after Chiu’s one-under 71 and Yung-Hua Liu’s 72 was cancelled out by a 73 from Chun-An Yu. For the second successive day Sun-Yi Lu carded Chinese Taipei’s non-counting score, a 75, in a format where a team’s three lowest scores count towards each day’s total.
Singapore leapfrogged into third place on 636, 13 shots off the pace, while New Zealand (637) and Australia (638) round out the top five heading into a final round which promises much tension, especially on the last three tricky, water-fringed holes of Yas Links challenging back nine.
South Korea, who have been conspicuous by their absence atop the leaderboard this week, made the greatest progress on moving day, Jae Kyeoung Lee’s best of the day 66 and a four-under 68 from Sung-ho Yun propelling them into three way share of sixth place alongside China and Thailand. Thailand slid out of the bronze medal position with a disappointing five over aggregate for round three.
Chiu actually extended his lead atop the individual leaderboard by a shot, moving to 203, -13, to head China’s Cheng Jin and Japan’s Daisuke Matsubara by three strokes. But a scrappy finish from the Chinese Taipei No.1 will give Jin and Matsubara great hope, not to mention Matsubara’s teammates in the all-important teams’ competition.
A double bogey six on the strategical conundrum that is Yas Links’ 16th hole followed two earlier inward nine dropped shots as Japan ratcheted up the pressure courtesy of a pair of 71s from Naoyuki Kataoka and Takumi Kanaya. It could have been worse for Chinese Tapiei but Chui will take solace from scrambling a sand-save par on the long par 3 17th and somehow avoiding another dropped shot despite slicing his tee shot off the 18th tee so far right it ended up on the adjacent 10th fairway.
Chinese Taipei’s non-playing captain Tim Sung admitted the pressure had got to his young side but believes they have the mettle to win down the stretch tomorrow.
“The team score was even par today so fortunately we are still leading, but only by three shots and three shots for a team championship is nothing, maybe one hole it is wiped out,” said Sung who was also captain when Chinese Taipei last won in Hong Kong 18 years ago.
“They just have to play their own [game] and keep on playing. The front nine, I think some holes are pretty easy so we need to have some birdies there otherwise the back nine we’ll be under risk because 16, 17, 18 are pretty dangerous holes. If we would make under par tomorrow, say 210, six under par, that would be good.”
Sung has high hopes Chun-An Yu will come good after struggling with his putter following an opening 63 with rounds of 71-73. He also believes he has identified the issue that lead to Chiu’s loose finish today.
“Today, the pressure, I think I can accept that because our best player is Chun-An Yu and he didn’t play well the last two days, his putting no good today. But even the best players in the world sometimes don’t putt well. Still he shot nine under par in the first round so it could be heaven tomorrow…we’ll see,” Sung said.
“Hang-Tin Chiu did well on the front nine, I think he was four under, but the back nine I think he ran out of his energy. When he played the last few holes, his body is so inconsistent, not steady, so his shots are out of control and he dropped some shots and that influenced our team score.
“Today with his putts also, he was thinking hard, which is good, but maybe he is very, very tired. Maybe tomorrow, after a good sleep… I think they are ready for tomorrow and we must just do our best.”
The leading teams tee off at 10.30pm on Sunday.
00adminhttps://egfgolf.ae/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/EN-nav-logo-white.pngadmin2015-10-25 01:54:452023-01-08 22:36:56CHINESE TAIPEI LOOK TO CHIU AND YU TO GO WIRE-TO-WIRE AT 27th NOMURA CUP
UAE) – The Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) will be hosting the Junior and Ladies Arab Golf Championship at Al Ain Equestrian Shooting & Golf Club (AESGC) on December 10th – 12th, 2015. This three day event will have three different representing divisions – 18 & Under, 15 & Under, and Ladies – from 10 different Arab Countries.
