Sport | Golf
Leading Gulf players vie for honours at the GCC championship in Dubai
UAE team are looking to improve on last year's performance
- Staff Report
- Published: 00:00 February 22, 2012
- Image Credit: Courtesy: Emirates Golf
- The UAE team, runners-up at the 15th GCC Golf Championship held in Bahrain last year, stand to benefit from a last-minute switch of venue from Oman to Dubai.
Dubai: The UAE golf team will look to go one better than last year when Dubai hosts the 16th GCC Championship from March 4-7.
The national team finished second behind Bahrain in last year's event at Bahrain's Royal Golf Club, but a last-minute switch of venue from Oman to Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club should boost their prospects this time around.
Organised by the Emirates Golf Federation under the patronage of the General Authority of Youth and Sports and sponsored by Dubai Creek, the championship will see leading players from the six GCC states vie for the honours in men's and junior divisions.
Sporting capital
The UAE may have been runners-up in 2011, but they went on to win the team gold medal in the junior division and Ahmad Al Musharrekh claimed the individual gold medal in the senior division.
"It's indeed a privilege and honour to play host to this prestigious regional championship. We will try and do our best to ensure the successful and smooth conduct of championship befitting the UAE's reputation as the sporting capital of the region," said Adel Zarouni, Secretary General of the Emirates Golf Federation.
"We are grateful to the management at the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club for their support and putting in place all arrangements at short notice and we value their support. Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club are no strangers to the event, having previously hosted the championship. I am sure the course will be in superb condition and the players will relish the experience of negating the fantastic layout. I wish all the participating teams the very best and hope they all have a comfortable stay in Dubai."
Mustafa Al Hashimi, Club Manager of Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, said: "We are delighted to be part of this prestigious tournament, which will showcase the rising standard of the game in our region.
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