By Kent Gray
After shocking himself by becoming just the second Emirati to make the cut at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (ACC), Amhad Skaik plans on free-wheeling his way up the leaderboard over the weekend.
The UAE No.1 added an even par 71 to his opening 69 to move to -2 for the championship, six strokes adrift of Bo Jin’s halfway lead at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club.
Skaik joined Ahmed Al Musharrekh – who made the cut at the 2011 ACC won by Hideki Matsuyama at Singapore Island Country Club – as the only Emiratis to advance to the weekend at the region’s premier amateur event.
Bogeys on the 16th and 18th courtesy of a pair of three-putts from the fringe saw Skaik tumble 10 places down the leaderboard to a shared of 22nd. But he was just happy to get into the clubhouse and regroup to go again after an injury plagued build-up.
“I’m very happy. Coming into this, I didn’t think I’m going to make the cut because I’m not playing well. I had a lesson with my coach two days before the tournament and I felt much better, and in control of my game, so happy to be here.”
Anything in particular that you worked on?
“Just the swing. I was trying to work on tempo and take away and that’s very crucial to my game and it worked out pretty well.”
Still, Thursday’s second round was a grind.
“It was a struggle out there. I didn’t hit it well. I struggled off the tee and with my irons, but my putting was on and my wedges, that helped me,” said Skaik.
“I didn’t really pay attention to the leaderboard. I was just trying to focus on my own game. Just stay patient and wait for it. The front nine I didn’t hit it well, and I finished level par and then managed to make two birdies on 10 and 14. But I’m happy. Level par is fine.”
Skaik, who has bogeyed the 7th and 18th in both of the first two rounds, is looking forward to the weekend.
“I mean, now I can play relaxed because I’ve made the cut, which was my goal but now let’s hope tomorrow I can strike it well and just get the putter rolling as well.”
With pro ambitions, Skaik also knows playing in the field with the likes of world amateur No.1 Keita Nakajima and two-time champion Yuxin Lee is an invaluable learning experience.
“They are the best of the best in the amateur game, so obviously we look up to them, especially Yuxin because he’s a lefty like me. It’s pretty good to play with them and hopefully in the future we get to play in the same group.”
