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Ahmad Skaik has etched his name into the history books of both UAE and Arab golf by making the cut, in some style, at the HotelPlanner Tour’s UAE Challenge.
The UAE’s Number One Ranked Amateur bounced back from Thursday’s opening round of one-over-par at Al Zorah Golf and Yacht Club with a stunning finish to his second round of five-under-par to make the weekend, and become the first UAE-born golfer to make the cut in a 72-hole professional event.
Ahmad recovered from a rocky opening nine holes in round one by making four birdies in his final six holes, finishing the day at one-over. And it was a similar story on Friday!
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With UAE National coach Faycal Serghini on his bag, Ahmad began his second round with a one-under-par front nine, followed by six consecutive pars.
But he saved the best until last once again – clutch birdies on the par-four 16th and par-three 17th, and an eagle on the closing par-five 18th saw him card a five-under 67 and move to four-under for the tournament.
“It feels amazing,” said Ahmad. “I felt yesterday I didn’t make many mistakes. Just one hole, made triple bogey.
“I was five over after 11 or 12 holes for the tournament, and now I’m four-under, so I’m very very pleased.
“I just kept patient, kept trying and they just dropped in for the last few holes. I have never made the cut, so it’s always been the goal!”
Ahmad is one of six UAE National players in the field this week at the UAE Challenge, with Joshua Grenville-Wood as the sole professional flying the flag for the home country. He is two shots better than Ahmad at six-under-par.
Ahmad Skaik – Emirates Golf Federation
Skaik has entered these two double-header events on the HotelPlanner Tour’s eGolf Swing in fine form, having recently 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 27-year-old dominated the field in Saudi Arabia to secure the individual gold medal with a record-breaking final score of 18-under-par.
Oihan Guillamoundeguy – Getty Images / Octavio Passos
Oihan Guillamoundeguy, Mark Power and JC Ritchie share a one-stroke lead at the halfway stage of the UAE Challenge at Al Zorah Golf & Yacht Club.
South African Ritchie carded a two under par round of 70, while Frenchman Guillamoundeguy and Irishman Power both fired five under 67s as the trio reached ten under par and head into the weekend with a one-shot advantage.
The third round of the UAE Challenge will get under way at 8:00am local time, with Guillamoundeguy, Power and Ritchie teeing it up in the final group at 10:00am.
Main Image: Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images
