MUSCAT: The GCC Junior Golf Championship, held at Ghala Golf Club, concluded on Tuesday with high level competition and outstanding performances across all age categories, highlighting the steady development of golf among GCC nations and the growing depth of young talent in the region.
In the ladies team championship, the United Arab Emirates claimed first place with a score of +7, finishing ahead of Saudi Arabia (+83) in second place, Bahrain (+101) in third and Oman (+201) in fourth.
The girls’ under-16 team championship also saw the UAE dominate, securing first place with +1, followed by Saudi Arabia (+63), Kuwait (+155) and Oman (+164).
In the boys under-16 team championship, Qatar topped the standings with +33, edging Bahrain (+41) in second place. The UAE (+45) finished third, followed by Saudi Arabia (+71), Kuwait (+112) and Oman (+134.)
Meanwhile, the under-13 team championship witnessed strong performances from Bahrain, who secured first place with +61, while Oman finished second with +72, ahead of the UAE (+85), Saudi Arabia (+88) and Kuwait (+151).
On the individual level, Jamie Camero of the UAE claimed the ladies’ individual title with a total score of 147 strokes, followed by compatriot Lara al Khatib in second place with 149 strokes and Fay al Balushi in third with 161 strokes. Omani golfer Nada Mir was the top local performer, finishing fourth with 163 strokes.
In the girls under-16 individual championship, Anka Matyio of the UAE secured first place with 144 strokes, while Sarah Abu Bakr, also of the UAE, finished second with 148 strokes and Asia Salem claimed third with 152 strokes.
YOUSUF WINS U13 TITLE
The under-13 individual title went to Omani golfer Yusuf al Rumhy, who delivered an impressive performance to win first place with 161 strokes, ahead of Mohammed Waheed of Bahrain (172 strokes) and Khalifa al Fatakhla of Bahrain (177 strokes).
In the boys’ under-16 individual championship, Daniel Sokolov of Qatar captured the gold medal with 139 strokes, followed by Khalid Sadiq of Bahrain in second (157 strokes) and Abdullah Darwish of the UAE in third with 163 strokes.
Speaking after his victory, Yusuf al Rumhy expressed his delight, saying: “Winning this GCC championship at Ghala Golf Club is a great motivation for me. It encourages me to keep developing my game and to represent Oman at regional and international tournaments in the future.”
Meanwhile, UAE national team player Sarah Abu Bakr highlighted the importance of the event, stating: “The competition was very strong, and the level of play was high. Participating in this championship helped me gain valuable experience and further improve my performance ahead of upcoming challenges.”
The championship concluded with widespread praise for the organisation and technical standards, reaffirming the GCC’s joint efforts to strengthen grassroots golf and develop future champions across the region.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
