Top spots for Samawi, Rich and Dadabhoy in Al Ain
The trio each won their respective divisions in the EGF Order of Merit Championship
Rami Samawi, Intissar Rich and Aayan Dadabhoy won their respective Men’s, Ladies’ and Junior’s Divisions in the 2022 – 2023 EGF Order of Merit Championship strokeplay tournament at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club.
The 54-hole Divisions, both the Men’s and Ladies’, are qualifying events for the R&A World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR).
In warm, windy, cloudy and unseasonably sandy conditions Samawi shot a final round of 74 to win the Men’s Division by six shots following scores of 68 and 70 in the opening two rounds. The 16 year-old plays off a +2.3 Handicap. The Swiss born player will travel at the end of June back to Europe, to play both Swiss National as well as International events, including a summer schedule involving the Italian and Spanish Amateur Championships and other National Championships.
Samawi told GULF NEWS after his round, ‘I played well in round one, the second day was OK and I was a bit scrappy today, but I got it round, which is what it is all about. I am doing some GCSE’s ahead of time in the next few days and next year I will take the others. I live in Dubai by myself and I came to Dubai last August to advance my golfing ambitions. I go to school at GEMS FirstPoint, aligned with the CH3 Performance Institute at The Els Club under the watchful eye of the Director of Instruction Jamie McConnell. My parents are still based in Switzerland. I am proud to win this prestigious EGF event. This is the first victory of my 2022 – 2023 season, but I went close at the Saadiyat and Montgomerie events.’
Intissar Rich won the Ladies’ Division with rounds of 72, 72 and today’s 68 for a two over par total of 212. The 23 year-old, playing off a +3.1 handicap plays at The Els Club, is coached by Joe Marshall from CH3 Performance Institute and she represents the Emirates Golf Federation. The Moroccan born player, had three birdies and just one bogey in today’s final round to win the Division by six shots from Anca Mateiu.
Rich’s next event is in Thailand where, along with five other UAE based players she will be playing in the 54-hole 30th edition of the Singha Thailand Ladies’ Amateur Open Championship, Wednesday 31st May – Friday 2nd June under the Emirates Golf Federation representative banner.
15 year-old Aayan Dadabhoy won the Junior Division with rounds of 74 and 71, after a play-off with 16 year-old Rayan Ahmed who matched the rounds of Dadabhoy. All players competing in this EGF event qualified through the season long EGF Order of Merits.
At the prize presentation the season long EGF Order of Merit Awards for all three Divisions were also distributed.
Final Results (Par 70)
Men’s Division 54-Holes
R. Samawi 68. 70. 74. 212 (+2)
D. Morton 72. 77. 69. 218 (+8)
M. Dutton 74. 71. 74. 219 (+9)
Ladies Division 54-Holes
I. Rich 72. 72. 68. 212 (+2)
A. Mateiu 74. 72. 72. 218 (+8)
J. R. Camero 76. 75. 70. 221 (+11)
Junior Division 36-Holes
A Dadabhoy 74. 71. 145 (+5)
R. Ahmed 74. 71. 145 (+5)
S. Wulff 76. 72. 148 (+8)