Reema Al Heloo, Tara Al Marzooqi, Mohammed Al Hajeri and Rashid Al Emadi will represent the UAE at the 2017 Asia Pacific Junior Championship in Hong Kong from August 30.

The three-day, 54-hole U-17 tournament on the New course at Hong Kong G.C. is a unique mixed gender event where teams select one male and female to play each day in three different formats – fourball (round 1), foursomes (round 2) and individual strokeplay (round 3). Teams from the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation’s (APGC) 45 member federations are invited.

The UAE will take momentum with them to Hong Kong with Al Heloo and Al Marzooqi fresh from claiming gold at the latest GCC Ladies Golf Championship. Al Marzooqi also won the individual GCC title.

A product of the Emirates Golf Federation’s National Junior Development Program (NJDP), Al Emadi also enjoyed a memorable GCC Championship winning individual and team titles in the boys U15 division.

Khalid Mubarak Al Shamsi, EGF Secretary General, and UAE non-playing captain will guide the team in Hong Kong.

“The girls have had a few strong years in our region but this will be a good test for them leading into the 2017-2018 season that starts in October. This championship will be a good measurement to see how their game has improved since we’ve competed in this event last year,” he said.

“We have had a two-week summer camp in Germany during July and a full month of preparation for this championship and the upcoming season. We have set personal goals for this event and I think we will achieve them.”

The post UAE juniors eye Asia Pacific progress in Hong Kong appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Mohammed Al Hajeri, Mohammed Abdulla Saeed and Rashid Al Qubaisi will represent the UAE in the U18 event from Thursday while Rashid Al Emadi (pictured above). Obaid Al Heloo and Khalid Al Mutawa make up the UAE U15 team which will also compete over 54 holes at Riyadh Golf Club.

The Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) has invested heavily into its junior programme with the players honing their short games and working on scoring during a dedicated four week development camp at the European Tour Performance Institute (ETPI) at JGE.

“Scoring is the most important part of playing in the GCC Championships,” said UAE manager and EGF Secretary General, Khalid Mubarak Al Shamsi as the teams tuned up with 36 holes of practice in Riyadh.

United Arab Emirates reps (from left to right) are Rashid Al Emadi, Obaid Al Heloo, Mohammed Abdulla Saeed and Rashid Al Qubaisi

“Recovering from mistakes and keeping the ball in play will help our team place in the top spots for this championship. We have some young talent and we have prepared well for this event…it is now time to put that hard work to the test.”

Al Qubaisi is playing his first international event while Al Hajeri is fresh from helping the UAE senior men’s team capture the bronze medal at the recent senior GCC Golf Championship in Bahrain.

Al Emadi is the big hope for individual honours in the U15 division after a strong 2016-17 season and dedication to his short game.

The post A month of prep at JGE has the UAE fizzing for the GCC champs in Saudi Arabia appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.