Yousuf Finishes Tied for Fourth at the 2017 Arab Golf Championships

(Aqaba, Jordan) – On November 28th – December 2nd, 2017 the United Arab Emirates (UAE) National Golf Team competed in the 37th Arab Golf Championship in Aqaba, Jordan. Over 52 players and 11 different countries from the Arab Golf Federation competed in a four-day event at Ayla Golf Club. Leading the way for the UAE and placing tied for Fourth in the overall Individual Category was Khalid Yousuf. The UAE Team finished in 9th place in the Team Category.

UAE Team with Delegates: (Left to Right) Ahmed Skaik, Adel Zarouni, Khalid Yousuf, H.E. Shaikh Fahim Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Khalid Mubarak Al Shamsi, Abdulwahed Al Qasem

Yousuf had a strong championship battling at the top of the leaderboard all weekend. With rounds of 69 – 75 – 73 – 69 for a championship total of 286, Khalid finished only four shot back from the leader. Yousuf ended his championship 2 under par.

After the championship, Khalid had this to say, “it’s encouraging to see the level of Arab golf improving each year and it’s always nice to see other Arab golfers doing so well. I was extremely happy with my game this weekend considering the windy and cold conditions. The fairways and greens were hard but my approach shots were on target and my recovery shots allowed me to make a lot of “up-and-downs”. To shoot two under par and to be the first UAE National to shoot under par at an Arab Golf Championship is a great honor.”

The UAE team finished 9th overall in the Team Category out of 11 teams. Skaik who was UAE’s second-best showing had a slow start but finished strong with rounds of 86 – 78 – 77 – 74 – for a championship total of 315.

Competing in his first Arab Golf Championship, Abdulwahed Al Qasem had the pressure of providing the team with its third and final score each day. Al Qasem finished with a total of 386 for the championship.

Winning the overall Team Championship was Morocco. Morocco proved to have strong talent as they won the championship with a score of 847, 42 shots better than the second place team. Tunisia took home the Silver and Egypt won the Bronze.

Moving forward the National Team will turn their focus to the Emirates Golf Federation Order of Merit events. The next international event will be the GCC Golf Championship during March 2018.

Keep up to date with the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) and the UAE National Team via the EGF website (www.egfgolf.com) and social media.