Saadiyat Beach Golf Club is set to welcome some of the world’s best amateur golfers once again as they battle it out for top honours when the club hosts the third edition of the Abu Dhabi Amateur Championship from December 14 – 16.
The Championship invites scratch golfers from the world over to compete for a chance to earn valuable World Amateur Golf Ranking points, as well as the Abu Dhabi Amateur Championship title – and, potentially, spots in the European Tour’s prestigious Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA for the champion and leading Emirati player.
Following the success of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Amateur Championship in 2018, the 2019 event hosted at the Gary Player designed course, was bigger and better, with over 30 nationalities from across the globe competing over 54 holes in an Individual Strokeplay format. Local sensation Josh Hill, who became the youngest ever winner of an Official World Golf Ranking event last year at the MENA Tour’s Al Ain Open, capped a memorable 2019 with a thrilling one-stroke triumph over close friend Arjun Gupta to be crowned the second winner of the Championship following Dino Capazario’s triumph in 2018. With the victory, Hill secured a spot in the European Tour’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA, where he became the youngest-ever participant in the event and also enjoyed a practice round with then World No.1 Brooks Koepka.
“It’s a really good event with strong competition and you really have to play well to win it as the course is difficult. Obviously the WAGR points on offer at this tournament are a massive draw and it’s going to help out my amateur ranking by boosting me up a couple of places,” said Hill, after his victory last year. Ahmad Skaik also secured a spot in the first Rolex Series event of the year following a dramatic play-off with Saif Thabet. The two UAE nationals finished the tournament in tied 11th before Skaik superbly drained a birdie putt on the first trip back up the 18th to book his place alongside the likes of Tommy Fleetwood and eventual winner of the event Lee Westwood, who the UAE’s number one went on enjoy a practice round with at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
‘HARDEST CLUB IN THE UAE’
“Saadiyat Beach Golf Club is the hardest club in the UAE in my opinion with the wind playing a big factor along with the difficult greens and slopes so it’s a perfect place to host this great tournament. I played in this event in 2018 and it definitely improved last year with the standard of players which means plenty more WAGR points were on offer,” said Skaik. A date is yet to be decided for the return of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA, which could include the amateurs who are successful at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club if the amazing prize is confirmed again, but it is often considered the unofficial start to the European Tour. It’s the largest event on the Abu Dhabi annual golfing calendar and a stop on the European Tour that never disappoints the players or the fans. Some of the recent star players include Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler (2016 Champion), Tommy Fleetwood (2017 and 2018 Champion), the 2019 Open Champion, Shane Lowry (2019 Champion) and Ryder Cup star Lee Westwood (2020 champion).
Commenting on the return of the popular event, Matt Waters – Senior Golf Operations Manager for Troon Abu Dhabi, said: “Our vision for the Abu Dhabi Amateur Championship is to create a platform for elite international and UAE based amateur golfers to compete in an environment that prepares the top performing players for the potential move to professional golf. At the beginning of 2020 our 2019 Champion, Josh Hill, competed in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA and the Omega Dubai Desert Classic which provides an insight into the pathways that may open up for future participants and champions over the coming years.
“At Saadiyat Beach Golf Club we pride ourselves in delivering the world renowned Troon Experience which largely consists of maintaining exceptional playing surfaces which we believe sets the course up to be the perfect Championship venue for a World Amateur Golf Ranking Tournament. We are thoroughly looking forward to welcoming a vast array of elite amateur golfers to Abu Dhabi in December and to witness what we hope to be a thrilling tournament for all.”
To book your place in this fantastic event please email: [email protected] or call 024998100.
