David Ford, the No. 5 ranked amateur in the world, posted an eight-under 64, while 2023 US Amateur champion Nick Dunlap contributed a four-under 68.

“I just feel so happy for these guys,” said US captain Mark Newell. “This is a great championship filled with lots of good players and they really earned their victory with great play all four rounds and especially today.”

On the strength of a red-hot Ford, who was six-under through his opening six holes, the Americans quickly established an eight-shot cushion midway through the opening nine. 

Ford rattled off four consecutive birdies followed by an eagle hole-out from 140 yards on the par-4 sixth to kick-start his final round.

“I’ve never been six-under through six before,” said Ford, who carded a 29 on the front side. 

“I didn’t look at the leaderboard until about hole 13. I wanted to see where we were and then I just tried to make as many birdies as I could coming in.”

Ford’s 64 is the second-lowest individual final round score in World Amateur Team Championship history.

After struggling to get things going early on, Dunlap birdied six of his final 10 holes, leading to his 68, and Gordon Sargent, the low amateur in the 2023 US Open, posted a non-counting 71 for the USA in the fourth round. 

Dunlap (2), Ford (T-5) and Sargent (T-5), who competed together on last month’s victorious USA Walker Cup team at St Andrews, all finished in the top 5 of the individual scoring.

“I love the fact that everybody contributed just about equally,” said Newell. 

“Every player had the best score at least one day and every player had the highest score at least one day. They all carried the team for stretches and they all ended up shooting about the same scores overall. A true team effort and exactly the kind that it takes to win this kind of event.”

The USA’s 72-hole hole score of 36-under-par 540 was 11 strokes better than the silver-medal winning Australia and Norway teams. The 11-shot victory was the largest championship margin since Australia’s 19-stroke win in 2016. 

Australia used a strong finish by Jack Buchanan (4-under 68), who birdied four of his final five holes, and a counting score from Karl Vilips (2-under 70) to close at 25-under-par 551.

Norway’s silver is its first medal in the country’s 26 Eisenhower appearances. The Norwegians, whose previous best finish was fourth place in 2022, used a 3-under 69 from Herman Sekne and a 2-under 70 from Michael Mjaaseth for a team total of 551. 

“Obviously, you want to win when you have a chance to, but this is the best that our country has ever finished, so that’s something to be proud of,” said Sekne, a senior at Purdue University. “Hopefully we’ll be back next time and win it.”

France finished in fourth place, one stroke behind Australia and Norway at 24-under. Italy, the 2022 champions, and New Zealand finished in a tie for fifth place.

The USA receive custody of the Eisenhower Trophy until the next World Amateur Team Championship, which will be held in 2025 in Singapore. Members of the winning team receive gold medals and members of the two second-place teams receive silver medals.

Although there is no official recognition, New Zealand’s Kazuma Kobori, the 2023 Western Amateur champion, was the low individual scorer at 16-under 272.

Main image: Supplied

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The men will fight it out over Abu Dhabi Golf Club’s National Course for the Eisenhower Trophy from October 18-21 before the women contest the Espirito Santo Trophy from October 25-28, the first time the event has been held in the Middle East.

One man who has high hopes for the home nation — both on and off the course — is Ahmad Skaik, the UAE’s No.1 amateur golfer, and he can’t wait to get started once again to fly the flag after an injury-disrupted year. 

“I am very excited of course, as it is always an honour to represent the country on such stages and having it at home makes the occasion even bigger and better,” Skaik told Golf Digest Middle East.

“The course isn’t one that I would say suits my eye but I have good memories there, so I will keep that in my mind always and I’m sure that it will help me. 

“I am excited to play it this time as last year in France I was not able to play because of my back injury, so I am very happy to be able to be part of the team and compete this time.”

After graduating last year, Skaik had big plans for 2023, including the possibility of turning professional, but his troublesome back pushed back his schedule. However, now it is full steam ahead once again.

“The season has been tough, but I’m putting in the work and making big changes in my game which I am sure will help in the future,” he said. “I used to always worry about what is happening and that I want to play well, but I have changed the mentality. Of course, I want and will always try to play well but I would rather do the changes now and struggle in the process and get it good than postpone the changes until the future. 

“For the injury, I have an acute disc which will probably stay with me my whole life, so I always have to be careful and stay on top of things, especially with physio and gym work.”

As for turning pro, that is still on the agenda in the near future.

“Hopefully by the end of the year or beginning of next year,” he said. “Only time will tell but for now, my focus is on the Asian games, the WATC, and the Asian Pacific.

“I finished college last year in May and I got injured two weeks after that, so I didn’t really get to enjoy it, but now I am really enjoying having nothing else to worry about other than golf.”

Main Image: Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

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Organised by Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the Department of Culture and Tourism, the men’s Eisenhower Trophy is scheduled for October 18-21 while the women’s Espirito Santo Trophy takes place the following week from October 25-28.

The UAE men’s team will be captained by star player Ahmad Skaik and he will be joined by current UAE Junior Order of Merit winner Rayan Ahmed as well as 2023 Robert Rock Abu Dhabi Championship winner Thomas Nesbitt.

“It is an honour to represent the country in any event, and to do it in the biggest amateur team event, especially on home soil, makes it even more special,” Skaik said.

“I am excited about this opportunity and proud to serve as the captain. I couldn’t compete much last year due to my injury, so I am eagerly anticipating the challenge.”

Ahmed, who also achieved a top 10 finish at the 2023 European Golf Championships, added: “It’s truly a dream come true to participate in a tournament where golf legends like Tiger (Woods), Rory (McIlroy), and (Jon) Rahm have played. I’ll have the opportunity to test my skills against the very best in the world.”

The women’s representatives include 2023 Faldo Series Middle East Championship winner Jamie Camero, 2022 All African Challenge Trophy champion Intissar Rich and Lara El Chaib, who won two events in England last year.

“The WATC will bring together the best of the best amateurs from all over the world and I’m so honoured to be a part of it, especially in front of our home crowd,” said Camero. “I’m guaranteed to learn a lot from the week.”

Rich, who has previously played in Ladies European Tour events, added: “I’m very excited to be part of the UAE Ladies Team and to play golf at Abu Dhabi Golf Club for the Espirito Santo Trophy.

“This course is known for being tough and used to host the HSBC Championship. Representing the UAE is a big honour, and I can’t wait to play golf with my teammates.”

Both tournaments are set to feature 36 countries with each nation having two or three playing representatives with some of the best amateur players in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, including current World No. 1 Christo Lamprecht.

The 22-year-old South African grabbed the spotlight earlier this year when he posted a 66 to hold the first-round lead at the 151st Open Championship at Royal Liverpool.

“It’s always a great privilege to represent your country,” said Lamprecht. “I’m a very proud South African, I’m looking forward to it and playing alongside my fellow South Africans. It’s time we do really good in the event as historically we haven’t done too well. I think it could be a really special one for us.”

The best two scores from each day’s play go toward the team’s score for each round with the 72-hole total combining to give each nation’s score for the full championship.

Both tournaments were last held in 2022 in France where Italy emerged victorious at the Eisenhower Trophy on 31-under par, while Sweden claimed the Espirito Santo Trophy on 13-under.

Main image: Ahmad Skaik. EGF

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Abu Dhabi is gearing up to host the 2023 World Amateur Team Championships — the the first time the event has taken place in the Middle East — with Monday marking the start of the one-month countdown until the event kicks off at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

Hosted by Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the Department of Culture and Tourism, the men’s Eisenhower Trophy is scheduled for October 18-21 while the women’s Espirito Santo Trophy takes place for the following week from October 25-28.

Both tournaments are set to feature 36 countries with each nation having two or three playing representatives.

The best two scores from each day’s play constitutes towards the team’s score for each round with the 72-hole total combing to give the nation’s score for the full championship.

“We are delighted to host the World Amateur Team Championships which is another significant addition in Abu Dhabi’s ever-growing international calendar of sports,” said Aref Al Awani, General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council.  “It also provides our home golfing talents the opportunity to play side-by-side with the elite amateur golfers. We warmly welcome the participating teams and wish every participating team the very best.”

General Abdullah Alhashmi, Vice Chairman of the Emirates Golf Federation, added: “The Championship Committee along with the Local Organising Committee have been working hard over the past 12 months to get to this final stage of preparation.

“Under the patronage of his Excellency Sheikh Fahim Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Abu Dhabi and the Emirates Golf Federation, we look forward to hosting the world’s best amateur golfers and top federations at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. I would like to thank our partners at the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the Department of Culture and Tourism for their support and for making this Championship possible.

“Finally, I would like to thank golf’s governing bodies, the International Golf Federation, The R&A and the USGA for their trust in the United Arab Emirates for hosting this prestigious championship, it is our mission to continuing to develop the sport of golf in the Middle East.”

These amateur contests have often been a showcase of golf’s promising young talent with past major champions Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods featuring on winning teams before turning professional.

Both tournaments were last held in 2022 in France where Italy emerged victorious in the Eisenhower Trophy, while Sweden claimed the Espirito Santo Trophy.

The last tournament also featured names such as Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg and USA’s Rose Zhang — both of whom are recent winners in the professional game, the former having been named in Luke Donald’s European team for the upcoming Ryder Cup in Rome, while Rose will represent Team USA in the Solheim Cup.

The post One month to go: Abu Dhabi set to host World Amateur Team Championships appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Abu Dhabi is set to host the most important amateur golf tournament in the world in less than two months, with 36 nations represented in both the men’s and women’s competitions at the World Amateur Team Championships.

The men will fight it out over Abu Dhabi Golf Club’s National Course for the Eisenhower Trophy from October 18-21 before the women contest the Espirito Santo Trophy from October 25-28.

This is the 33rd edition of the men’s event before a landmark 30th time the women will be in competition in the biennial tournament conducted by the International Golf Federation (IGF).

General Abdullah Alhasmi, Vice-Chairman of the Emirates Golf Federation has confirmed preparations are well under way and on course as the UAE hosts the tournament for the first time — also the first time the event will be held in the Middle East.

The top 10 teams last time out Paris automatically qualify for the 2023 edition — held in an odd year so as not to clash with next year’s Olympics — along with the hosts. The remaining 25 spots are filed by the Amateur Golf Ranking of the best two players from each country.

Each nation is represented by a team of two to three players for the 72-hole stroke play competition.

“The fact that this is the first time since its 1958 inception that the WATC has been held in the Middle East is both significant and exciting, as it will hopefully generate more interest in golf throughout the region,” Annika Sorenstam, President of the International Golf Federation said. “Many of the most recognised players in the game have represented their countries at the World Amateur Team Championships, including more than 70 per cent of the men and women who competed at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. We look forward to witnessing the exceptional talent on display in Abu Dhabi this October and thank the Emirates Golf Federation for its excellent work in preparing for the event.”

Across the two competitions, Europe has 31 qualified teams, Asia 19, the Americas 12, and Africa and Oceania five each.

Sweden won the women’s Espirito Santo Trophy in 2022 while the men’s team from Italy took home the Eisenhower Trophy.

2023 WATC MEN’S TEAMS
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Canada
China
Colombia
Czech Republic
Denmark
England
Finland
France
Germany
Guam
Guatemala
India
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Korea
Mexico
Morocco
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Scotland
Singapore
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Chinese Taipei
Thailand
UAE
USA
Wales
Zimbabwe

2023 WATC WOMEN’S TEAMS
Australia
Belgium
Bolivia
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Czech Republic
Denmark
England
Finland
France
Germany
Hong Kong
India
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Korea
Mexico
Morocco
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Pakistan
Philippines
Scotland
Singapore
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Chinese Taipei
Thailand
UAE
USA

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