The Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) hosted over 100 United Arab Emirates (UAE) national golfers, at the 2023 UAE Presidents Cup sponsored by HSBC at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. The 11th edition of the UAE Presidents Cup did not disappoint.
Hosted at Abu Dhabi Golf Club the Emirates Golf Federation organized an entire weekend of competition spanning from the beginning level to the elite amateur level. This included the Main Event which had a junior division, ladies’ division, senior division, and an elite division. In addition, the Federation held the Future Falcons 9-Hole Championship on the Garden Course, as well as the Future Falcons skills challenge. The Future Falcons Skills Challenge allowed beginning-level children and families to participate in a fun competition during the UAE Presidents Cup. This skills competition will consist of chipping, putting, and driving competitions.
After an 18-hole playoff Ahmad Skaik won the 2023 UAE Presidents Cup sealing his fate on back-to-back victories, his third win in four years. Alai Al Emadi defended her title in the Ladies’ Division, and Rashed al Naqbi won the Junior Division.
To celebrate this year’s Presidents Cup, the award ceremony was graced by His Highness Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan and His Excellency Shaikh Fahim Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, and Head of Network Distribution at HSBC UAE, Najeeb Busheri.
But there was further drama to follow….
Following a scoring error Sunday night Ahmad Skaik and Hassan Al Musharrekh were called back to the course on Wednesday, February 22nd to have an 18-hole playoff. With rounds of 77-72 for the Championship and a 70 (2-under-par) for the playoff, Ahmad Skaik won the 2023 UAE Presidents Cup.
Ahmad had this to say after the championship, “Golf is a crazy sport, and you must be able to adapt to certain things to overcome the hurdles that the sport throws at you. This weekend was a great example of that.
“It is great to be back on the course full-time. I wanted to use this Championship to show everyone that I’m healthy again and ready for the rest of the year, I think I did that. I want to thank Hassan, he’s a great competitor and a brother of mine on the National Team, we have a lot to accomplish together this year.
“It’s always an honor to win the UAE Presidents Cup and I am grateful for all the support that I have received from the EGF and entire the UAE. I’d like to thank my family, coaches, and of course my teammates for pushing me and making me a better person on and off the course.”
Winning the Runner Up prize was Hassan Al Musharrekh with rounds of 73 76 and a playoff round of 76. Rounding out the Top-3 and coming in Third Place after a countback, was Saif Thabit with a total gross score of 155.
For the first time, the UAE Presidents Cup created an Elite Invitational Category offering UAE resident golfers the opportunity to compete in the championship. Winning the Best Invitational Men’s Division was Jonathan Selvaraj shooting one-over par for the weekends and in the Best Invitational Ladies Division Jamie Camero also shot one-over par.
The Overall Net winner for the event was Mohammed Darwish, who finished with a Net Total of 130 for the two days.
The Senior Division saw more than 10 different competitors that were over the age of 50 years old competing for a prize. The winner of the Senior Division with a total gross score of 156 was Saeed al Malik.
Defending her title and winning the Ladies’ Division for the third year straight was Alia Al Emadi. Alia shot a total of 165 in two days. The Ladies Overall Net winner was Hamda al Suwaidi with a total gross score of 167.
In the always-growing Junior Division, Rashed al Naqbi walked away with the 2023 Junior Division title. Rashed shot a championship total of 156 to claim his first UAE Presidents Cup Junior victory.
Winning the Runner-Up prize in the junior division was Sultan al Jassmy with a championship total of 165. Taking home, the junior net prize was Mohammed Thabet.
Claiming victory in the Future Falcons Championship, Ali Almaazmi won the Boy’s Division and Latifa Al Jassmy won the Girl’s Division.
