Al Khubairat golf team victorious at Abu Dhabi Schools League

Abu Dhabi: Cormorant team from British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi emerged triumphant in the Schools and Clubs Golf League with a total score of 306 points, finishing ahead of Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club with a score of 292 points.

The tournament was held at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club on Wednesday and saw over 50 junior golfers from across the UAE battling it out for honours.

Cormorant scored 52 points with Gazelles Team from Saadiyat Beach Golf Club in second place with 48 points. Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club tied for third place with Al Yasmina School at 47 points each.

The winning team was decided through the total points scored over six games that were played on a monthly basis since last November.

“We started the tournament in 2011 with 16 children, but now we have over 50 kids who have registered, proving that interest in golf has grown over the years,” Saadiyat Beach Golf Club’s junior expert, P.J Van Merch told Gulf News.

He added that such competitions are meant to show the golfers where they stand and how far they are from reaching their goals, and that this tournament is open for any junior golfer representing a golf club or a school.

“There are so many benefits that children gain from playing golf and the league promotes a culture of good sportsmanship, camaraderie, and integrity,” Van Merch said.

While the Saadiyat Beach Golf Club has an 18-hole course, this event for schools was played over nine holes.

Representing the team from Yas Links in Abu Dhabi, Ryan Hunter, 15, has been playing golf for almost eight years and has participated in many such events.

“I love the game. It’s my pride and joy,” Hunter said, adding that he used to play football, cricket, and hockey, but gave them up to focus on golf.

Teeing off the ball next to him, Eoin Cunniffe agreed, saying that golf was “a great way to get away from everything”.

At 16 years of age, Cunniffe has already participated in various tournaments including the Irish Boys Championship in Ireland, and is paving his way to try and become a golf professional by competing in a championship set to take place in Greece next September.

Children who are interested in taking up golf can register for an eight-week programme at the Saadiyat Beach Golf Club at Dh595. There are also individual packages for adults.

- The writer is an intern with Gulf News