UAE coach (L to R) Samir Wallani with Mohamed Adel Al Hajeri, Saif Thabet, Khalid Yousuf and Ahmed Skaik

By Kent Gray
Ahmed Skaik was the individual star as the UAE achieved its best placing at the Pan Arab Golf Championship since 2011.

Skaik was fifth individually on three under par to spearhead the UAE to fourth place among the 12 teams contesting the 38th edition of the teams’ championship at The Residence in La Marsa, Tunisia.

Rounds of 71-72-75-67 for a 285, aggregate left Skaik three shots behind the third placed finishers and 11 shots back adrift of individual gold medalists  Souadi Ayoub (Morocco). Khalid Yousuf was the next best of the UAE contingent, three consecutive rounds of 74 and a closing 71 for 293 total leaving him 12th.

Finishing in 23rd and 24th place were Mohamed Adel Al Hajeri (302) and Saif Thabet (304) respectively.

“We are very proud of our team’s accomplishments over this weekend. To have our best finish in seven years displays that our teams’ are working hard and pushing each other to be their best,” said Emirates Golf Federation Secretary General, Khalid Mubarak Al Shamsi.

“The team showed strength and unity this weekend, after a full two months of travelling while playing in golf tournaments all over the world and to finish as strong as we did demonstrates the desire our team has for this game.”

Morocco won the teams title with an impressive 823 total, 41-under-par. Qatar took silver with hosts Tunisia finishing third.