UAE dissapoint at Arab Championships

Dubai: The UAE men's team finished a disappointing seventh at the 30th edition of the Arab Golf Championships in Tunisia at the Citrus Club in Hammamet on Sunday — and that's despite a late fightback. But both the junior and ladies UAE teams both snatched top-five finishes.

Khalid Yousuf shot a superb 71 while Abdullah Al Musharrakh returned with a solid 72 despite a bogey-bogey finish to contribute to the team's score along with Hassan Al Musharrakh (79) on the final day.

Their combined final day's tally of a gross 222 was their best from the three-day championship having opened with 237 and followed it on day two with 232. Much was expected from in-form Ahmad Al Musharrakh but the plus two handicapper failed to deliver his best under pressure and had to settle with a disappointing 80, a score which, in the end didn't count towards the team's combined score.

Having finished runners-up to Bahrain last year, chances of advancing were wrecked by a lack of consistency as they finished well behind winners Egypt who beat Bahrain to the top spot. Lebanon took third from the 16 competing Arab Union member states.

UAE team manager Khalid Mubarak said, "We had prepared well for the championship, but things somehow didn't turn out to our expectations. You do feel a bit disappointed but the boys did try very hard. This is golf. You have got to remain patient and wait your turn. The team is determined to use this experience as a springboard."

However, consolation came in the form of a fourth-finishing junior outfit. A combined gross score of 356, from Sohail and Faisal Al Marzouqi (86, 81 and 92, 97 respectively) contributed to the score.

While the first UAE women's team, Rabab Al Haj and Eida Al Muhairbi finished top fifth on their debut.