Yousuf puts UAE in lead at Arab Junior golf championship

Sixteen-year-old Khalid Yousuf recovered brilliantly from a disastrous first hole to fire the UAE Under-18 team into the lead at the 6th Arab Junior Golf Championships in Syria yesterday.

Yousuf, who dropped two shots at the opening par-four hole at the Cham Golf & Country Club in Damascus, battled back to card an impressive one-under 71.

His teammate Abdulla Mosharaf also flirted with disaster before steadying himself to card a 78 that gave the UAE a two-stroke lead at the half-way stage of the 36-hole tournament.

Mosharaf had a bogey-four on his opening hole but showed tremendous character thereafter to return a 78.

Teams representing Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia and Qatar are participating in the tournament.

Yousuf's round of one-under also saw him finish the day as joint leader, with Morocco's Soufan, in the individual category.

In the under-15 event the UAE's Ahmad and Hassan Mosharaf are in fourth place behind leaders Lebanon.

"Despite not having had the opportunity to get in some practice at the course the boys have given a very good account of themselves," said team manager Esmail Sharif from Syria.