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Ahmad Skaik made history at the 2025 Men’s and Youth Cooperation Council (GCC) Golf Championship, held at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, by delivering the lowest score ever recorded in the tournament.
The UAE’s highest ranked amateur golfer dominated the field to secure the individual Gold Medal with a record-breaking final score of 18-under-par.
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2025 GCC Championship – EGF Secretary General Khalid Mubarak Al Shamsi, Rayan Ahmed, Sam Mullane, Jonathan Selvaraj and National Team Head Coach, Faycal Serghini)
Skaik’s performance also propelled the UAE Men’s Team to its first-ever Team Gold Medal. With rounds of 67-69-66-68, totalling 270 (-18), he finished a staggering 15 shots ahead of the Silver Medallist Daniil Sokolov from Qatar.
Jonathan Selvaraj added to the UAE’s success by taking the Bronze Medal in the Individual Category with a score of four-over-par, narrowly edging out his fellow countryman Sam Mullane, who finished fourth. Qatari Saleh Al Kaabi was a further shot back in fifth, with Rayan Ahmed completed the UAE Men’s Team performance by finishing sixth with a total of nine-over-par.
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Reflecting on his historic victory, Skaik said: “I was striking the ball really well all week, especially off the tee, which gave me a lot of wedge shots for my approaches. My putting was on point, and I only made five bogeys, 21 birdies, and one eagle.
“This is by far my best-ever tournament score. Shooting all four rounds in the 60s was a goal of mine, and I’m thrilled to have achieved it. I’ve been working a lot on my tempo and force plate training, which I believe has made a significant difference. I’m looking forward to taking this momentum into the rest of the UAE season and into the summer.”
2025 GCC Championship Individual Leaderboard
Skaik’s individual triumph was matched by the UAE Men’s Team, who clinched their first Gold Medal in the Team Category with an impressive 20-under-par (-20) finish. Their dominant performance saw them finish 37 strokes ahead of runners-up Qatar, while Bahrain took the Bronze Medal.
Youth U18 Division
In the Youth U18 division, Team UAE secured the Bronze Medal, led by Mohammed Thabet, who shot 22-over-par and also earned an individual Bronze Medal. Abdulla Kalbat and Abdulla Salmeen finished ninth and 15th respectively in the individual standings.
Vice Chairman General Abdullah Alhashmi expressed his pride in the team’s achievements, stating: “We have truly shattered records with an incredible performance. A heartfelt thank you to our players for their hard work and determination.
“A special appreciation goes to the entire coaching staff, and my warmest congratulations to our Secretary General, Mr Khalid Mubarak, for his leadership and dedication.
“This was a true team effort, and I couldn’t be prouder. As Vice Chairman of the Federation, it fills me with immense pride to witness such achievements. Let’s keep this momentum going and continue striving for excellence.”
This year’s GCC Golf Championship marked the 16th edition of the Youth Championship and the 27th edition of the Men’s Championship. Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, an 18-hole championship course, has previously hosted prestigious tournaments including DP World Tour, LIV Golf, Asian Tour, and Ladies European Tour events.
Images: Emirates Golf Federation
