Thomas fires a 69 to win the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club 2013 Junior Open
Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht club recently hosted their annual Junior Open which is the final event of the EGF junior order-of-merit championship.
Once again this year the event was a great success with over 50 players battling for the title of Junior Boy’s and Girl’s champion. As ever, the Dubai Creek course was in beautiful condition although with strong winds and lightening fast greens it would be a real test for the young golfers
13 year old Dubai Creek junior Rayhan Thomas managed three birdies and just one bogey to fire a superb 2-under par 69 and be crowned Dubai Creek Junior Open Champion 2013. The margin for Thomas’ win was a massive seven shots over the Yas Links brother duo of Darren & Ronan Hall who both finished with solid scores of 76. In the end it was the younger of the two, Darren, who had a strong finish to claim runner up spot over his elder brother on a 9 hole count-back.
After receiving his trophy Thomas commented; “I can’t thank my playing partners enough for bearing with my occasional flashes of temper and also Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht club for such a lovely event in beautiful conditions. It was a great win against a strong field and I’m very happy.”
The 2013 boy’s net champion title went to EGF member, Frederick Wong, as he carded one birdie to top the division with a solid net 67. Just four shots back was Emirates Golf Club Junior Matthew Laven who’s level par net 71 saw him finish runner-up. Third place in the boy’s net division was Adam Winter who finished with a 2 over-par net 73.
In the girls division it was another Dubai Creek Junior who took the title. Miss Aashka Desai put in a fantastic performance and took the title with a solid score of 85. Eshna Bhargava, another Creek junior took the girls net title after she finished with a 1 over-par net 72, ahead of runner up, Miss Ananya Sharma of Emirates Golf Club.
There were a host of on course competitions to be won thanks to the event sponsors FootJoy. Girl’s net runner up Ananya Sharma claimed the girl’s nearest the pin prize on the par-3 5th, whilst Girl’s champion Aashka Desai took the same for her tee shot into the par 3, 14th. The boy’s nearest the pin prizes went to Connor Keegan on the par 3, 8th and Matthew Baxter on the 16th. It was a day to remember for Aashka Desai as she also picked up the girl’s longest drive prize on the long par 4, 12th hole. Connor Keegan was another repeat winner on the day as he picked up the same prize for the boys division for his tee shot on the par 5, 5th hole. Connor Brooke was rewarded for his accurate drive on the 17th hole and claimed the prize for straightest drive there. Boys Champion Rayhan Thomas played well from tee to green on the par 4, 11th hole and claimed the prize for nearest the pin in 2.
At the presentation ceremony Dubai Creek’s Head Golf Professional Stephen Hubner commented; “It has been lovely to welcome so many junior golfers from all over the UAE for today’s event. I have been very impressed with what I have seen today, both the standard of play and sportsmanship has been excellent. Congratulations to all the winners, in particular Rayhan on his sterling 69. Thank you to our sponsors Footjoy, for once again helping us to grow junior golf in the region.”
