The Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) hosted a United Arab Emirates (UAE) National Foundation Squad Skills Challenge ) presented by DP World at Jumeirah Golf Estates – European Tour Performance Institute (ETPI). This event showcased the skills and fundaments that the UAE National Foundation Squad players have developed over the past six months following the EGF Arabic School Initiative supported by DP World, which has seen much success of the past year-and-a-half.
17 members of the UAE National Foundation Squad broke up into three groups where the players were then tested on different challenges showing the improvements that the kids have made since September. The challenges consisted of putting, chipping, longest drive, straightest drive, and the feared flop shot.
Winning the Putting Challenge after a playoff was Sultan Al Owais while Salem Al Maazmi came in Second Place.
Sultan Alolama won the chipping and Abdulla Kalbat finishing as the Runner-Up.
The Longest Drive Challenge was a close battle with Sa’ad Zarawani just beat Runner-Up Abdullah Al Suwaidi by only 6 yards difference.
Hitting a very impressive straight drive and winning the Straightest Drive Challenge was Lateifa Al Jassmey. Humaid Al Suwaidi came in Second Place.
Winning probably the toughest challenge of the day was Shahd Al Suwaidi who during the Flop Shot Challenge hit his ball over an 8-foot wall to two feet from the hole. Sultan Al Jassmey finished at the Runner-up for the Flop Shot Challenge.
“This Skills Challenge is a great team building activity that not only showcases the kids’ development but also gives the kids a fun competitive atmosphere. We wanted to host this activity to not only show our partners DP World and the European Tour that their National Junior Development Program support is still driving UAE golf development but many of the kids are starting to perform with some great skill. We look forward to tracking these players progress and continuing our partnerships while growing the game of golf within the UAE”, said EGF Secretary General Khalid Mubarak Al Shamsi.
The Foundation Squad will be back in competition next month at the March National Monthly Medal at Jebel Ali Golf Resort. In the meantime, these players will continue their weekly lessons at the UAE golf clubs and with the UAE National Junior and Ladies Coach Samir Wallani.
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