The Amateurs have retained the 2024 edition of the Dubai Golf Trophy with a 16-16 tie after two days and 54 holes of competition across the Faldo Course at Emirates Golf Club and the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

The 25th edition of the annual season-ending event featured the top 16 Professionals against the top 16 Amateurs, comprising 12 automatic qualifiers from the season-long UAE PGA and qualifying Emirates Golf Federation events across the UAE, along with four ‘wild card’ selections

Additionally, the event included a Ladies Challenge Match with two female players on each team competing throughout the tournament.

The Amateurs led after round one’s morning Foursomes with a two-point advantage into round two’s Fourball matches, ending at 5-3 against the Professionals.

Despite the Amateurs’ initial lead, the Professionals dominated round two, also finishing at 5-3 and puting the total score at 8-8 heading into Monday’s final round.

In Monday’s Singles matches on the Earth Course, notably within the round, Mike Bolt representing the Professionals and the Claude Harmon Performance Academy, secured a significant triumph with a 7&5 win over Amateur Craig Vance from Trump International Golf Club Dubai.

While Amateur Dominic Morton representing Trump International Dubai won 5&4 against Professional David Gray from the Emirates PGA.

However, the Amateurs emerged victorious as Viktor Kofod-Olsen from Emirates Golf Club secured a crucial draw on the 18th hole against Matt Rice from Golf Kraft, resulting in a 16-16 tie between the teams, allowing them to retain their win.

An ongoing feature of the two-day event was the Ladies Challenge Match, following the same format as the men’s competition. Representing the teams were Sara Engsig and Hamda Al Suwadi of the Amateurs, and Lea Pouillard of Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club and Siddhi Kapoor of Topgolf Dubai for the Professionals.

Both teams tied in the first and second rounds on the Faldo Course. The teams tied again during the Monday Singles matches, with Engsig winning 6&5 against Pouillard and Kapoor winning 6&5 against Al Suwadi.

Image: Dubai Golf