By Kent Gray
A top-10 finish at the Eisenhower Trophy has Rayhan Thomas eyeing his next big amateur challenge with a timely surge of confidence, especially given the huge prizes on the horizon.

The 18-year-old fired a final round 70 on the O’Meara course at Carton House in Ireland to finish the World Amateur Teams Championship in a share of eighth place individually on Saturday.

A sizzling 64 had seen the Dubai-domiciled Indian lead after the opening round and his three-under finish – after second and third rounds of 72 and 69 respectively on Carton House’s Montgomerie layout – left him -15 for the championship, eight shots behind individual champion Alejandro Del Rey. The Spaniard stormed home with a closing 65 to edge Japan’s Takumi Kayana by a stroke in a competition where there his global kudos but no actual silverware.

RELATED: Thomas underlines ability to go seriously low, sits atop individual standings at Eisenhower Trophy

The Danish team of identical twins Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard and John Axelson won the overall title with a -39 aggregate of 541, a shot clear of the United States with Del Rey’s closing effort helping Spain claim the bronze medal. Overnight leaders New Zealand slipped to fourth with Italy rounding out the top five.

India finished 31st of the 72 teams in Ireland. Thomas’ -15 effort alone would have seen India place 24th but the format dictates the best two of three scores count each day and Kshitij Naveed Kaul and Aadil Bedi ended +6 and +15 respectively.

Still, it was a major confidence boost for the MENA Tour history maker ahead of next month’s Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Singapore, especially after a year that promised so much but has produced steady if unspectacular results.

“I played solid this week which was nice…it was nice to start scoring again,” Thomas told Golf Digest Middle East.

“I’m starting to see my practice game come into tournament play so looking forward to the Asia Pacific in October and feeling good, ready to head back [to Dubai] and spend a little bit of time in the books [school work] and get my game ready for Singapore.”

The Asia-Pacific will be played on the new Tanjong course at Sentosa Golf Club from October 4-7. Thomas finished T-35 on +5 at last year’s tournament at Royal Wellington in New Zealand after rounds of 73-71-73-72 and will be motivated to better that with the champion in Singapore earning an invitation to the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club and a place in The 148th Open at Royal Portrush.

Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates finished 61st in Ireland, an improvement of four places on their effort in Mexico two years ago.

Khalid Al Jasmi was the best performed Emirati with a +8 total following rounds of 73-75-80-70, the two-under final round on the Montgomerie course the obvious individual highlight. Ahmad Skaik finished +22 (T-147th individually) and Saif Thabet +42 (197th) with best rounds of 77 and 81 respectively.

RELATED: Khalid Al Jasmi’s Eisenhower Trophy longevity is impressive, once it becomes clear

Qatar was the best of the Arab Peninsular teams in T-53rd with Saudi Arabia 57th, lead by Khalid Attieh on +13 while Othman Almulla and Ali Alsakha finished  +14 and +24 respectively.