Dubai: Sana Tufail claimed the Emirates Golf Federation's invitational Ladies Matchplay title, held at the Al Badia Golf Club in Dubai Festival City over the last weekend.
The 13-year-old Sana, a student at the British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi, (who has a handicap of three) was seeded second.
Sana met Judy Kong of Abu Dhabi Golf Club in the quarter-finals, winning on the 14th hole 5/4.
Sandra Grenet of Emirates Golf Federation proved a much tougher opponent in the semi-final, the French woman used all her experience to keep Sana under pressure throughout the round, both players matching each other with brilliant shots, however it was Sana who maintained her 1 up lead from the 16th onwards, to win on the 18th when both scored pars over the last two holes.
Tough encounters
In the other half of the draw 5th seed Sue Henderson, the current Abu Dhabi Golf Club Ladies Captain, had tough encounters with this years Girls Order of Merit winner, Shloka Desai, winning on the 18th hole 2 up. She then beat Nasha Sarkari, the UAE Ladies Order of Merit winner, in the quarter-final to march into the semi-finals with fellow club player Shawn Lunday, which she won. This set her up for her third encounter this season with Sana Tufail.
Sue Henderson had a brilliant start in the final round with consecutive birdies on the first two holes but Sana fought back to level by the 8th hole and then powered away to win 4/3 on the 15th, when Henderson sportingly conceded the hole as Sana was about to play her 1 foot putt for birdie. This is Sana's fifth title of the season, the Scratch Matchplay Trophy being her biggest win of the year.
Mohammad Al Musharrekh of the EGC congratulated Sana for being the youngest ever winner of a major UAE Ladies Amateur event and hoped to soon see her making her debut as an amateur in the Dubai Ladies Masters.
