Belaid, Thomas and Dalile top EGF Junior order of Merit standings
Bilal Belaid of Abu Dhabi Golf Club staved off a tough challenge from Eoin Cunniffe of Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club to win the Emirates Golf Federation’s Junior of Merit title in the boys gross category.
Rayhan Thomas of Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club and Boushra Dalile of Emirates Golf Club also needed to overcome a stiff fight-back from their nearest rivals before winning the Order of Merit titles in the boys net and girls net divisions respectively.
A picture of consistency during the six-month long season, Belaid tallied 148.25 points, edging past Cunniffe by just five points. The winner of the Yas Links Abu Dhabi Junior Open, Belaid featured in all the seven events which carried Order of Merit points.
Young Cunniffe picked up steam with a victory in the Emirates Golf Club Junior Open, the penultimate event on the Order Of Merit, to post a creditable runner-up finish, relegating Dubai Creek’s Rayhan Thomas (139.25 points) to third place.
Thomas, however, had the final say in the boys net division, taking the honours with 11.5 points ahead of Cunniffe (108) and Dhruv Nair (102).
The Dalile sisters — Boushra and Line – dominated the girls net division with an impressive one-two finish. During the season, which kicked off with the Abu Dhabi Golf Club Junior Open in October and ended with the Dubai Creek Junior Open on April 6, Boushra collected 135 points, beating her sister by just four points. Serifa D’Souza of Dubai Creek settled for third with 122.5 points to her credit.
The Order of Merit events also provided a good opportunity to young Emiratis enrolled with the National Junior Programme to hone their skills. Ahmed AlBudoor, Ahmed Skaik and Fathi Skaik, who all featured in the last two events at Dubai Creek and Emirates Golf Club, made their presence felt, picking up healthy points.
EGF ORDER OF MERIT STANDINGS:
Junior Order of Merit table (Boys Gross): 1. Bilal Belaid (ADGC), 148.25 points, 2. Eoin Cunniffe (AAESGC) 143.25 points, 3. Rayhan Thomas (DCGYC) 139.25 points, 4. Philipp Urasch (EGC) 123.25 points, 5. Conor Keegan (EGC) 103 points.
Junior Order of Merit table (Boys Net): 1. Rayhan Thomas (DCGYC) 11.4 points, 2. Eoin Cunniffe (AAESGC) 108 points, 3. Dhruv Nair (DCGYC) 102 points, 4. Arkesh Bhatia (ETC) 99 points, 5. Jai Bhalla (DCGYC) 97.5 points.
Junior Order of Merit table (Girls Net): 1. Boushra Dalile (EGF) 135 points, 2. Line Dalile (EGF) 131.5 points, 3. Serifa D’Souza (DCGYC) 122.5 points, 4. Julia Alhemoud (EGF) 116 points, 5. Aashaka Desai (DCGYC) 111.5 points.
