UAE Golf team produce something special to clinch Gold Medals in the Arab Games Doha
The UAE, lying fourth overnight two shots off the pace, carded a combined team score of 223 to take their four-round tally to 914 which was good enough to land them the team championship, which attracted leading players from 10 countries.
Egypt finished second four shots adrift, beating Bahrain on a countback.
Ahmed Al Musharrek, who contributed a closing 71 to the team score, iced the cake, winning the gold medal in the individual championship as well when he defeated Hamad Mubarak in a sudden-death playoff.
Starting the day at 11-over-par, a good five shots behind leader Hamad Mubarak, Ahmed staged a tremendous rally to end the round levelled with the Bahraini star. In the ensuring playoff, Ahmed parred the par-5, 18th while Mubarak finished with a double-bogey after landing in the water.
It was a complete team effort that paved way for the UAE’s stunning success in the games. Unruffled by the two-shot deficit, the UAE team played with a matured head. Ahmed led the challenge in the company of Faris Al Mazroui (75) and Khalid Yousuf (77) as UAE saw off the challenge of Bahrain and Egypt.
“The boys were just great. They showed great strength of character in getting the job done in such superb fashion,” said a jubilant Chris Vallender, the national coach of the team. “Two golf medals in one event certainly augur well for the game in the country. This performance will certainly add to their confidence,” he added.
Photo: – The victorious UAE team with Ahmed Al Musharrekh (far right), Individual Gold winner
Saeed albudoor, general manager of the Emirates Golf Federation, said: “The boys have done the country proud. Hard work and intense training has paid off. Their performance will certainly inspire and motive all young Emiratis who are enrolled with the National Junior Programme.
“This is the first time we have won not one, but two gold medals in the Arab Games. We are absolutely delighted with the way they handled the pressure. Every member of the team deserved to be applauded, especially Ahmed who remained consistent during the event.”
