Invites to next year’s U.S. Masters at Augusta National and 147th Open Championship at Carnoustie are on the line for the 17-year-old Dubai-based world No.26 at Royal Wellington over the next four days.

Thomas, who enjoyed the sights from atop Mt. Victoria in New Zealand’s capital before making the 30 minute drive north to Royal Wellington for final practice and the opening ceremony, has been drawn alongside New Zealand hope Ryan Chisnall and Australian Dylan Perry for the opening 36 holes. The trio have a late tee time Thursday – 1.50pm local time (4.50am UAE time) – meaning they are likely to encounter Wellington’s infamous winds.

Yu Chun-an (Chinese Taipei), Nick Voke (New Zealand) and Rayhan Thomas (India) with the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship trophy atop Mt. Victoria in Wellington, NZ. Photo courtesy: David Paul Morris/ AAC

“The wind seems to be blowing pretty hard so it’s going to be an interesting event,” Thomas told Golf Digest Middle East. “You’ve got to keep the ball low . If the wind dies, it’s score-able but if doesn’t, it’s just about trying to make pars.”

Thomas completed his practice with 10 holes and some range and putting green work overnight after playing the full course on Tuesday and declared it in “ fantastic shape”

“The Masters and Open invite would be awesome. It excites me and gives me a little extra inspiration to try to reach something like Augusta and Carnoustie,” he said. “I mean those places are like the holy grails of golf, to hopefully play there one day would be awesome and meeting all the Augusta officials and members today at the opening ceremony really makes you want to be there so I’m really excited and can’t wait to get going.”

Final practice at Royal Wellington for Thomas. Photo courtesy David Paul Morris/AAC

Meanwhile, Ahmed Skaik and Mohamed Al Hajeri will represent the UAE at Royal Wellington.

Skaik, who won individual gold at the most recent GCC Championship and has three MENA Tour appearances under his belt, is off 30 minutes before Thomas in a group including a Fijian and Samoan player.

Al Hajeri, sent to New Zealand for the experience, is off 10 minutes after Skaik (4:30am UAE time) in a group including Bahrain’s Abdulla Sultan Saleh.

“The course is in great condition. With that said, the landing areas on the fairways are tighter than I am used too and the greens are playing very fast,” said Al Hajeri. “In the afternoon the winds will pick up giving all the players even more of a challenge. I am excited to play and the talent is endless here. I am just going to take it a shot at a time and enjoy this experience.”

Here’s a preview of the event from New Zealand Golf, the host federation:

And coverage from the opening ceremony:

The post Thomas a warrior in waiting for Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The two Emirates Golf Federation (EGF)-backed teams – Mohamed Al Hajeri and Reema Al Heloo (UAE 2) and Rashid Al Emadi and Tara Al Marzooqi (UAE 1) – finished 34th and 38th respectively of the 38 teams representing 20 countries in the mixed gender Mitsubishi Corporation Cup tournament at Hong Kong Golf Club.

Al Hajeri and Reema Al Heloo produced the UAE highlights with scores of 78 (fourball), 82 (foursomes) and 77 and 95 respectively in the individual stroke play for a 332 aggregate. In 2016 the duo returned scores of 91-100-96-97 in Taoyuan City, Taiwan to finish on 384 — a massive 52 shot difference.

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Al Hajeri is making significant progress, highlighted by the 19 shot difference in his final round scores from Taiwan and Hong Kong.

However, the best performing UAE team still finished 52 over par for the week and a whopping 69 shots behind winners Yuki Ikeda and Yuka Yasuda (Japan No. 2) who signed for a -17 aggregate to win by seven strokes from Australia.

Al Emadi and Al Marzooqi, meanwhile, finished +115, 395 for the week, emphasising the gulf the UAE must gap at international level.  Al Marzooqi will be slightly disappointed that her individual score of 101 was two strokes worse than her effort in Taiwan 12 months earlier.

“We are happy to see improvement from our players this year and we met some of our goals,” said Khalid Mubarak Al Shamsi, EGF Secretary General and UAE National Team Captain.

“The more our young players play in championships like this, the more improvements we will see internationally and regionally.”

The post Mohamed Al Hajeri produces UAE highlight at eye-opening Asia Pacific Junior Championship appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.