The UAE team bettered their first round score to stay within striking distance of the title in the Arab Games golf competition

With a 54-hole team total of 459, the UAE team, who led overnight, are placed second, just two shots behind Bahrain, who staged a tremendous rally to move on top of the leaderboard. Hosts Qatar are placed third on 460 in the 72-hole stroke-play event where three best scores in a team of four are recorded.

Ahmed followed his first-round 75 with another solid round, but it was Abdulla who, shot 83 in the first round, showed a remarkable improvement in his game. Ahmed, along with Khalid, is tied for second place in the individual championship with a four-over-par score after two rounds, just one shot behind Qatar’s Ali Al Bishi.

“It was pretty encouraging to see the boys put up another gritty performance. The momentum is there and it will depend how they finish off the job at hand,” said Chris Vallender, coach of the UAE national team.

“This is a team event and we need three good scores every day if we aim to go the full distance. The first two rounds have gone pretty well and the boys are charged up. The mindset is positive – and that’s the main thing.”