Dubai: Sohail Al Marzouqi and Faisal Al Marzouqi will spearhead the UAE challenge in the Arab Junior Golf Championship to be held at the Yasmine Golf Course in Hammanat, a popular tourist destination in Tunisia, from today to April 12.
The brothers will compete in the team and individual events during the championship, which has drawn entries from several Arab countries, including Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Lebanon Libya, Morocco, Palestine and Qatar.
In the run up to the championship, Sohail and Faisal featured in the UAE junior team that competed in the senior Arab Championship, hosted by the EGF at Ras Al Khaimah recently.
The Emirates Golf Federation's coach Chris Vallender, will accompany the players to Tunisia.
The UAE team have done well in the past junior championships, and the Marzouqi brothers could draw inspiration from the stunning exploits of the "golden team" of 2007 when they tee up for honours at the Yasmine course, designed by Californian architect Ronald Fream.
The UAE team created history in 2007, winning the team gold and individual gold and silver medals in the under-18 and under-15 categories, in the sixth edition of the junior championship held at the Ein Sochna Golf Club in Egypt.
Khalid Yousuf completed a dream double for the UAE when the talented golfer followed up his sizzling opening day 71 with a solid one-over 73 to clinch the individual title by one stroke from Morocco's Soufan Rashidi.
Most of the members of the victorious team, including Yousuf and Abdullah Al Musharrakh, have since graduated to the senior division, leaving it to the youngsters to follow in their footsteps.
As a team, the Al Marzouqi brothers will compete in Category A meant for players aged 18 and under. They will also line up for honours in their respective individual divisions - Sohail in 18 and under and Faisal in 15 and under.
"The tournament will be a good learning curve for the Al Marzouqi brothers," said Saeed Albudoor, general manager of the Emirates Golf Federation.
