The thrill of team golf was encapsulated in the annual Junior Team Invitational at Arabian Ranches Golf Club with the emphasis on including abilities of varying levels 6 teams competed for the prestige of being this year’s leading team.
With a fun format in place the juniors competed in a 2 player scramble with each team searching to post the lowest total for their respective clubs and academies. The leading pairs were a key part of the tournament outcome with Sean Cooper and Ethan Anderson posting a very impressive 9 under par score of 45 to be crowned as the leading pair on the day just two shots ahead of Sasha Bakhtiar and Michael Palagonia with an equally impressive score of 7 under par 47.
The event however was settled by that most elusive of shots in golf, a hole in one. On just the second hole of their round Michael Palagonia struck a sublime iron straight down the flagstick and with just one bounce and a smooth roll straight into the cup the pair recorded a hole in one which proved to be vital in the overall result. The leading pair from the European Tour Performance Institute was backed up by teammates, Seth Hopkinson & Maxim Pagliuchi (53), Rhys Watson & Mattheo Sorcinelli (61) to edge the victory two shots clear of runners up Butch Harmon School of Golf.
Head Professional Malcolm Young was delighted with the day commenting “ the event was played in great spirit and so great to see the juniors interacting and being so engaged in team golf the highlight of the day was the hole in one and nothing could be more fitting than this being what separated the teams at the top end of the field. It’s been a great event over the years and we are grateful to our sponsors JTS Medical Centre for their continued support in this unique event for junior golf in the UAE”
