UAE’s No.1 golfer Ahmad Skaik remains upbeat despite third round 77 at Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship
Emirati has shown he can mix it with the game’s top amateurs
Ahmad Skaik, the only player from the GCC to make the cut at this year’s Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, fell down the leaderboard with a third round six over par 77, but the Emirati No.1 remained upbeat with the way he has competed against some of the world’s best amateurs.
“I surprised myself with my game this week, said Skaik. “I wasn’t playing much or playing well going into this tournament, but I’ve shown I can compete with these guys. I don’t focus on who I’m playing with, I figured I’m in a different situation – I’m focused on my studies and a lot of these guys are playing tournaments week in week out.
“I spoke with one of the guys I was playing with earlier this week, who said it was his last event of the season whereas this is just my second in six months. You can see the obvious difference there. I’m happy, I didn’t expect to make the cut so hopefully next time I will come better prepared.”
A birdie on the sixth at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club was given back on the seventh, with Skaik making bogey on the 492-yard par 4 for the third successive round. Doubles at eight and ten saw him fall over par for the first time this week, while dropped shots on the 11th and 13th left the youngster on four over par after 54 holes.
“On eight it was a tough pin position and I still tried to go for it,” he said. “I pulled it a little into the back bunker and was left with a difficult stance. I should really have walked away with bogey, but I ended up with a double. One of those things. On 10 I hit a drive just left of fairway, but couldn’t find the ball which was very unlucky I think.
“I didn’t really let it get to me, it is not always going to go your way on the golf course. I just said to myself, ‘OK forget what just happened and get on with it,’ but it did take a while to get over. I did get over what happened on eight but 10 felt like a bit of a slap in the face!”
With just one more day to go, Skaik is hoping to emulate his first round to finish on a high.
“My touch isn’t amazing at the moment but it is decent and playable,” he said. “I think I can shoot under par again, hopefully nothing happens like 10 again. I shot under par on day one and almost did it again on day two, so I hope I can finish the tournament with a low score. That would be a good way to finish.”