Jumeirah Golf Estates hosted their annual Beat the Pro event, where 92 members and guests competed in a Texas scramble against the Professional Management Team over the Earth Course: Daniel Naudo (Club Manager), Franco Botha (Director of Golf), Kieran Blackshaw (Golf Experience Manager), and Kian Higgins (Membership Experience Manager).

The overall winners of the 2025 Beat the Pro’s were Louis Thorne, Reece Malcolm, Harley Scott-Ellis, and Guy Broad. The team of low-handicapped amateurs claimed victory after a back-nine countback, with a score of 19 under par, net 53.

Not only did they claim the overall win, but Thorne’s team also emerged as the only team to place ahead of the professional team on the gross leaderboard, by three strokes, with their score of 16 under par, gross 56. Their steady scramble featured 16 gross birdies and just two pars.

Second place went to Edward Martin, Jack Thompson, Liam Smith, and Thomas Kennedy, who also shot 19 under par, net 53. Unfortunately, they lost the back-nine countback by just one stroke to the winning team, despite a net eagle on the notoriously difficult par five 18th hole.

Third place was claimed by Kevin Voegeli, Alexander Whayman, Melanie Voegeli, and Tobias Graf, who also shot 19 under par, net 53. However, they were also edged out in the back-nine countback. A front nine including four net eagles wasn’t enough for the top spot.

The Gross division was won by George Murray, Charles Groom, Bertie Nicholls, and Nathan Quigley, who shot a stellar bogey-free round of 11 under par, gross 61. Finishing just two shots behind the professional team, who shot 13 under par. The gross winners’ highlight came on the par four 15th hole, where they made an impressive eagle two.

In addition to the Texas Scramble, there were also Beat the Pro competitions on the par three holes of the Earth course. On the 4th hole, George Tuck claimed the on-course prize against PGA Professional Kieran Blackshaw. On the challenging 6th hole, Shiela McIlroy triumphed over PGA Professional Franco Botha. On Hole 13, Reece Malcolm took the win against PGA Professional Dan Naudo, and on the 17th hole, Mitsuko Emmerson claimed victory against PGA Professional Kian Higgins.

Cameron McWhinnie, Assistant Golf Services Manager at Jumeirah Golf Estates, shared his thoughts on the day during the prize presentation: “On behalf of everyone here at Jumeirah Golf Estates, we would like to extend our gratitude to all our members for taking part today and putting their skills to the test against our team of PGA professionals at the Club.

“We must also thank Suited and Booted, who have generously sponsored today’s prizes. Our winners will have the opportunity to sample their excellent products, some of which have been showcased by our professional team.”

The day concluded on the Earth Terrace, where the team at Jumeirah Golf Estates enjoyed a buffet meal with the members following the prize presentation.

Main Image: Jumeirah Golf Estates