Abu Dhabi teen golfer Tufail gets England call-up

Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi-based teen golfer Sana Tufail has been selected for the England U16 team to play at the European Young Masters (EYM) in Hungary from July 26-28.

This team and individual event, featuring two boys, two girls a squad, attracts the best youngsters aged U16 from 30 European countries.

Male and female champions receive an automatic promotion into Europe's U16 team against the USA for the Junior Ryder Cup to be held at Olympia Fields Illinois just before the actual Ryder Cup in September.

Past winners of the EYM include many of today's current crop of leading professionals including; the 2012 Omega Dubai Desert Classic winner Rafael Cabrera Bello, Italian wonder-kid Matteo Manassero, Suzann Pettersen and recent Ladies' European Tour winner Carly Booth.

Tufail, 15, who plays off a plus-two handicap, has had an outstanding season, winning both gross and net Ladies Order of Merit gongs.

What's more, her ten consecutive Order of Merit event wins to achieve the title is an Amateur Middles East record at any age level.

Awarded

The Yas Links Junior, of British School Al Khubairat, became the first girl to be awarded the ‘‘Junior Player of the Year'' at the Emirates Golf Federation's end-of-season ceremony.

She also received a special commemorative trophy honouring her 10 consecutive victories at a remarkable gross average of 72.7 per round, believed to be an international amateur record.

Delighted

The teenager, who became the youngest-ever player in the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters when she received a sponsors' invite in December 2011 and went on to score an impressive 73 on day one, said: "I'm delighted to be selected to play for England; it came as a complete surprise, but for the moment I am in lockdown mode for my GCSE exams.

"I'll aim to do my best and play shot-by-shot just as I have been doing throughout the season in the hope that this puts me among the leaders.'"

Her father Haris said: "It's a defining moment in some ways. It's her England debut and it's straight into the deep end with the winner taking a Ryder Cup slot. She'll play to enjoy herself having shown she's quite capable of finishing championship courses well under par."