Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi will host the 27th Asia-Pacific Golf Team Championship, the 2015 Nomura Cup, for amateurs this week. Defending champions Australia will headline 27 four-man teams at the Yas Links Abu Dhabi from Thursday to Sunday.
The 72-hole strokeplay event — where the best three of four scores each day contribute towards a country’s overall total — is being organised by the Emirates Golf Federation and Yas Links Abu Dhabi on behalf of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation.
Aside from the Eisenhower Trophy world amateur team’s championship, the biennial Nomura Cup is the most prestigious teams’ event on the amateur men’s calendar for Asia-Pacific golfers.
Emirates Golf Federation Vice-Chairman and tournament organising committee chief Adel Zarouni said the national governing body was to embrace the opportunity to host the Nomura Cup in the region for the first time in the event’s 52-year history.
“The Emirates Golf Federation is honoured to host this prestigious championship for the first time and it’s a proud moment for the amateur game in the UAE and for the wider Arab golf world,” Zarouni said on Tuesday, acknowledging the valued support of tournament partners Yas Links Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi).
“It’s another wonderful opportunity to expose players from across the region to top international amateur competition and for the EGF to show the world that we can successfully organise such an important event. It is also a reminder to the global golfing community of the world-class courses and facilities that make the UAE one of the game’s emerging hotspots.”
Zarouni’s comments were echoed by Faisal Al Shaikh, Events Bureau Director at TCA Abu Dhabi, which promotes the ‘Golf in Abu Dhabi’ initiative, a collective of the emirate’s six clubs, including Yas Links.
“Yas Links Abu Dhabi is one of the jewels in Abu Dhabi’s golfing crown, a collection of world-class courses that proudly includes a premier European Tour venue in Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Gary Player’s ocean-front masterpiece at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club and even a unique sand layout at Al Ghazal Golf Club,” he said.
“This is a great opportunity to showcase the premium golf product and diverse tourism and cultural experiences Abu Dhabi offers to a very important market across Asia. We wish all the teams the best of luck with their golf at Yas Links and a truly memorable stay in Abu Dhabi.”
Australia has won a record 10 Nomura Cups and the tournament has served as a launchpad to PGA Tour and European Tour titles for numerous past champions, including Brett Ogle, Craig Parry (1985 Nomura Cup winners), Robert Allenby (1991), Brett Rumford (1999), recent President’s Cup representative Steven Bowditch, Marcus Fraser (2001) and Andrew Dodt (2005).
The Nomura Cup also boasts a major champion among its alumni in Australian Geoff Ogilvy. The 2006 US Open champion played in the 1997 tournament in Hong Kong, where Australia finished runners-up to Chinese Taipei.
